SEDL / STP / STP886-EB / STP36360S

Determination of the Oil Content of Soils

Martin, JH
Research associate, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Loehr, RC
Professor of civil engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX

Pages: 8    Published: Jan 1985

Download this paper for $25 PDF (144K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

The precision and accuracy of acidification followed by Soxhlet extraction with trichlorotrifluoroethane to estimate the oil and grease content of oil-contaminated soils was determined. The amounts of oil and grease were determined gravimetrically after solvent extraction. Stock oil-soil mixtures prepared with vegetable oil, No. 2 fuel oil, No. 6 fuel oil, motor oil, and an oily waste were analyzed. The coefficient of variation for all oil-soil mixtures analyzed never exceeded 4%. The percentage of recovery varied from 68% for No. 2 fuel oil to 102% for motor oil. The results indicate that this method is precise and results in reasonable recoveries when used to measure the oils tested.