Spatiotemporal assessment and monitoring of hydrocarbons contamination of water and sediments in skikda bay (algeria)

ABSTRACT

The current study aims to the spatiotemporal assessment and monitoring of hydrocarbons contamination in water and sediments of Skikda bay (Algeria), as a result of the presence of industrial wastewater rejected by a petroleum refinery complex in the area. Water and sediment samples were obtained from six different sites during the fourth seasons in the studies area. Total Hydrocarbons (THC) were determined by a gravimetric method, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)(Anthracene, Pyrene and Benzo (a) pyrene) were determined by using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-UV/Vis). The results obtained indicateda high contamination by hydrocarbons in water and sediment samples from the sites exposed to the industrial refinery.The concentrations of THC, Anthracene, Pyrene and Benzo (a) pyrene recorded in water during the four seasons were in this order: 78–9457 µg/L; < LOD _Anthracene −157.1 µg/L; < LOD _Pyrene- 188.6 µg/L; < LOD _{Benzo (a) pyrene} −2224.45 µg/L respectively, with averages of: 1209.14 µg/L; 16.03 µg/L; 22.98 µg/L; 119.03 µg/L respectively. While the concentrations of THC, Anthracene, Pyrene and Benzo (a) pyrene recorded in sediments during the four seasons were in this order: 323–185,450 µg/g dw;< LOD _Anthracene – 87,624.7 µg/g dw;< LOD _Pyrene- 17,485.5 µg/g dw;< LOD _{Benzo (a) pyrene} −39,555.5 µg/g dw respectively,With averages of: 13,201.264 µg/g dw; 4199.966 µg/g dw and 1524.478 µg/g dw; 2464.815 µg/g dw respectively.An important seasonal impact in the water was demonstrated by the threecompounds selected for this analysis (Anthracene, Pyrene, and Benzo (a) pyrene). While in sediments, just THC showed significant seasonal variations. This variation can be attributed to the influence of physicochemical parameters, microbial load, reject flow and the type of hydrocarbon studied. Thereby, Wastewater in the refinery should be well treated to protect marine life and human safety.

KEYWORDS:

• Petroleum refinery
• wastewater
• thc
• anthracene
• pyrene
• benzo (a) pyrene
• skikda bay

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all C.R.Bt’s staff who has participated in the realization of this work for their support, in particular Mrs. CHERB Nora, Mrs. SISSAOUI Samira, Mrs. OUFFROUKH Karima and Mrs. DERDOUR Mouna.

The authors thank the Algerian General Directorate of Scientific Research and Technological Development (DGRSDT) for their financial support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

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