Author(s)

Joseph R. Stencel & Peter R. Jaffe

Abstract

All crude oil contains trace metals with nickel (Ni) and vanadium (V) generally being the predominant elements. In the past, these trace metals were only a concern from the perspective of the fuel cracking process. However, in recent years, Ni/V ratios have been used as biomarkers for determining the origin of crude oil in spills of unknown origin. Boscan crude from Venezuela, for example, has Ni levels on the order of 100 ppm and V of 1,000 ppm. Spills as large as those seen in Kuwait create some concern for the partitioning of these trace metals to the environment. To assess the environmental impact of such spills, one first needs to determine if porphyrins keep these metals from partitioning,

Keywords