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The origins and Sources of polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Aliphatic Hydrocarbons (N-Alkanes) in The Tigris, Euphrates, and Shatt Al-Arab rivers

Asal-usul dan Sumber Hidrokarbon Aromatik Polisiklik (PAH) dan Hidrokarbon Alifatik (N-Alkana) di Sungai Tigris, Eufrat, dan Shatt Al-Arab
Vol. 1 No. 3 (2024): Desember:
DOI : https://doi.org/10.21070/ijhsm.v2i1.99
Published : Jan 30, 2025

Mariam A. Qassem (1), Hamzah A. Kadhim (2), Makia M. Al-Hejuje (3)

(1) Geology Department, University of Basrah, Iraq, College of Sciences, Iraq
(2) Geology Department, University of Basrah, Iraq, College of Sciences, Iraq
(3) Department of Ecology, University of Basrah, Iraq, College of Science, Iraq
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Abstract:

Samples were taken from three sites along the Tigris, Euphrates, and Shatt Al-Arab Rivers between November 2022 and July 2023 to ascertain the concentrations, distribution, and sources of PAH compounds and aliphatic hydrocarbons in water samples. Aliphatic (n-alkane) compounds' carbon chain lengths were measured from C7 to C38, and the total amount of n-alkanes in water varied between 48.09 µg/l and 276.98 µg/l. The heavy PAHs were fluoranthene and chrysene, whereas the light PAHs were carbazol and anthracene, with concentrations ranging from 45.16 to 1848.54 ng/l. The LMW/HMW, CPI, and Pristine/Phytoene ratios indicated that n-alkane hydrocarbons were primarily biogenic, pyrogenic, and at least petrogenic. Nonetheless, the LMW/HMW, Phenanthrene/Anthracene, and Flouranthene/Pyrene ratios showed that the primary sources of PAH molecules were petrogenic and pyrogenic environments.


Highlights:



  1. Samples from Tigris, Euphrates, Shatt Al-Arab analyzed for PAHs, n-alkanes.

  2. n-Alkanes (C7–C38) ranged 48.09–276.98 µg/l; PAHs 45.16–1848.54 ng/l.

  3. Sources: biogenic, pyrogenic, petrogenic for n-alkanes; petrogenic, pyrogenic for PAHs.


Keywords: water, Tigris, Euphrates, N-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and Shatt Al-Arab

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