Identification of spilled oils by fluorescence spectroscopy

Abstract

A fluorescence spectroscopic method for identifying the sources of spilled oils is described. Bird feathers collected after various oil spill incidents were analysed. Comparison of the total fluorescence spectra showed that fluorescence spectroscopy could rapidly provide a fingerprint which would allow identification of the spilled oil by comparing its spectrum with spectra of possible sources. Weathering does not affect the spectra of crude and heavy fuel oils.