Use of fluorimetry in determination of DDB contamination in soils from underground oil-filled power cable leaks

The authors describe the application of fluorimetry to determine low levels of cable oil contamination in various soil types. The study has utilised a simple extraction technique using two different solvents to investigate their efficiency, speed and reproducibility. The sensitivity of the fluorimeter has also been assessed and the results discussed and compared with those obtained by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results indicate that an extraction efficiency over 80% is obtainable when hexane is used to extract the oil from the soil. The technique has a sensitivity of approximately 10 ppm (w/w) and has an acceptable accuracy of measurement of over 80%