Chemical Fingerprinting of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination Sources in Coastal Sediment Using GC-MS

Abstract

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in coastal sediments poses significant environmental risks to marine ecosystems, aquatic organisms, and coastal resources due to the persistence and toxicity of hydrocarbon compounds. This study investigates the chemical fingerprinting of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination sources in coastal sediments using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for detailed compositional and source identification analysis. The research focuses on characterizing hydrocarbon profiles, identifying contamination origins, and evaluating the distribution of petroleum-derived compounds in affected sediment environments. Sediment samples collected from contaminated coastal regions were subjected to extraction, fractionation, and GC–MS analysis to determine the presence of aliphatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, biomarker compounds, and diagnostic molecular ratios. Results demonstrated that GC–MS fingerprinting effectively differentiated between petrogenic and pyrogenic hydrocarbon sources based on compound distribution patterns and biomarker signatures. The analysis revealed distinct contamination characteristics associated with shipping activities, industrial discharges, oil spills, and urban runoff inputs. Molecular diagnostic ratios and biomarker indicators such as hopanes and steranes provided valuable information regarding hydrocarbon weathering, degradation behavior, and source correlation. Comparative analysis confirmed the reliability of GC–MS as a sensitive analytical technique for identifying complex petroleum contamination pathways in coastal sediment systems. The study further highlighted the influence of environmental transport and sediment deposition processes on hydrocarbon distribution and accumulation. The findings contribute to improved environmental monitoring, pollution source tracking, and risk assessment strategies for coastal contamination management. Furthermore, the research supports the development of effective remediation and regulatory measures for protecting marine environments from petroleum hydrocarbon pollution.