Ehrhardt MEnvironmental Pollution2010-02-152010-02-151972http://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/23167pp-271Oysters from a location in Galveston Bay, Texas, were analysed for petroleum-derived hydrocarbons. The lipids and hydrocarbons were Soxhlet-extracted with benzene/methanol and then partitioned into n-pentane. Hydrocarbons were separated from the lipids by column chromatography on a bed of silicagel covered by alumina; both absorbents were deactivated to prevent the formation of artifacts from sensitive components of the lipid fraction. Preparative TLC on activated silicagel mono-, di-, and tri-aromatic hydrocarbons. Individual compounds and compound types were identified from their gas chromatographic retention indices, mass spectra, and UV-spectra. The severe oil contamination of the oysters is evident: (1) The concentration distribution of the aliphatic hydrocarbons is similar to the distribution found in a crude oil. (2) Alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons are encountered at higher concentrations than in uncontaminated oystersAluminumAromatic hydrocarbonsContaminationcrude oilDistributionGalveston BayHydrocarbonHydrocarbonsoilOysterspetroleumPetroleum hydrocarbonsQ5 01505 Prevention and controlTexasUSAWoodPetroleum hydrocarbons in oysters from Galveston BayJournal