Distribution of volatile liquid hydrocarbons in the vicinity of power/desalination plants in Kuwait

Volatile liquid hydrocarbons (VLHs) represent some 40% of crude oil and are considered to be the most toxic compounds of petroleum other than the carc inogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The distribution of these compou nds in Kuwait's coastal waters in the vicinity and at the inlets of power p lants was assessed. About 200 samples were collected from selected sampling stations over the four seasons. The VLHs in the samples were concentrated using Grob's closed-loop technique and analyzed by GC using FID and confirm ed by GC/MS. The results showed that VLHs were ubiquitous in the coastal wa ter of Kuwait. The detected levels (ranged from 307 to 7882 ng/1 in Kuwait Bay and from 331 to 5017 ng/1 in the south) were comparable to the levels f ound in other parts of the world and were not alarming. However, the spotty higher levels encountered gave reason for some concern Benzenoids (origina ting from petroleum) predominated, representing roughly 70% of the total VL Hs. The levels were relatively low at the intake of the power plant located in the Kuwait Bay (annual average 677 ng/1) while higher levels (annual av erage 3006 ng/1) were encountered at the intake of the plant located at the south of oil the loading terminals and refineries. (C) 1999 Published by E lsevier Science Ltd on behalf of the IAWQ. All rights reserved.