Identify Contamination Sources & Ensure Environmental Compliance with Expert Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting
When hydrocarbons contaminate soil, water, or air, identifying where they came from (and when) is critical.
At Leeder Analytical, we use advanced forensic testing to pinpoint the source, type, and age of contamination with precision. Our NATA-accredited Melbourne lab delivers detailed, court-defensible results that support environmental compliance, legal cases, and remediation strategies.
- Identify the source and type of hydrocarbon contamination
- Estimate contamination age and weathering
- Meet EPA, NEPM, ASTM, and ISO requirements
- Support litigation, remediation, and regulatory reporting
What is Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting?
Tracing Contamination to Its Source with Scientific Precision
Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting is a sophisticated analytical technique that identifies the unique chemical signatures of petroleum products and other hydrocarbon contaminants in environmental samples. This detailed analysis can:
- Determine contamination sources: Distinguish between crude oil, diesel, gasoline, lubricating oils, and other petroleum products
- Estimate contamination age: Assess weathering patterns to determine when contamination occurred
- Support liability resolution: Provide legally defensible evidence for contamination responsibility
- Guide remediation efforts: Inform targeted cleanup strategies based on contaminant properties
Common Applications of Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting:
- Environmental site assessments (e.g., brownfield redevelopment, property transfers)
- Oil spill investigations (e.g., marine, groundwater, soil contamination)
- Legal disputes & insurance claims (e.g., determining liability for contamination)
- Remediation monitoring (e.g., verifying cleanup effectiveness)
- Underground storage tank leaks (e.g., gas stations, industrial facilities)
Understanding the specific hydrocarbon signature is essential to establishing contamination liability, designing effective remediation strategies, and ensuring regulatory compliance in environmental management.
Why Choose Leeder Analytical for Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting?
Leeder Analytical is a trusted leader in Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting Analysis, backed by decades of expertise in environmental chemistry.
- Industry Experts: Over 20 years of experience in petroleum forensics and environmental analysis
- Advanced Analytical Techniques: Utilising GC-FID, GC-MS, and GCxGC-MS for comprehensive chemical profiling
- Global Compliance Assurance: Meeting EPA, NEPM, ASTM, and ISO standards
- Detailed Source Identification: Capable of distinguishing between similar petroleum products
- Court-defensible Results: Providing expert testimony and legally robust analytical reports
With a world-class laboratory in Melbourne, Leeder Analytical is trusted by environmental consultants, government agencies, and legal professionals for precise contamination source identification and expert interpretation.
Who Needs This Service?
Our NATA-accredited laboratory provides Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting for:
- Environmental consultants conducting site assessments and remediation
- Legal professionals handling contamination liability cases
- Government agencies investigating pollution incidents
- Insurance companies evaluating contamination claims
- Property developers assessing brownfield sites
What We Test For
We analyse a comprehensive range of hydrocarbon compounds and markers, including:
- Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH, BTEX, PAHs)
- Biomarkers (steranes, hopanes, triterpanes)
- Diesel Range Organics (DRO)
- Gasoline Range Organics (GRO)
- Oil Range Organics (ORO)
- Weathering Indicators (isomer ratios, degradation products)
- Additives & Unique Chemical Signatures
Our Testing Process
We employ a rigorous, science-backed process to identify and characterise hydrocarbon contamination:
- Sample Collection & Preservation: We provide guidance on proper sampling techniques to maintain sample integrity.
- Extraction & Preparation: Using specialized methods to isolate hydrocarbons from soil, water, or air samples.
- Advanced Chromatographic Analysis: Employing GC-FID, GC-MS, and GC to create detailed chemical profiles.
- Pattern Recognition & Source Matching: Comparing sample profiles against reference databases of known hydrocarbon products.
- Comprehensive Interpretation: We provide detailed reports with expert interpretation of contamination sources, age estimation, and weathering assessment.
Regulatory Compliance & Industry Standards
Our Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting helps businesses meet environmental regulatory requirements, including:
- Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) guidelines
- National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM)
- ASTM International Standards (including ASTM E1618)
- ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
- Chain of Custody documentation for legal proceedings
Need to identify the source of hydrocarbon contamination?
FAQs
Why is hydrocarbon fingerprinting important?
Hydrocarbon fingerprinting provides definitive identification of contamination sources, allowing for accurate attribution of responsibility and informed remediation strategies.
This scientific approach delivers legally defensible evidence for environmental litigation and ensures compliance with strict regulatory standards such as EPA and NEPM guidelines.
How long does hydrocarbon fingerprinting take?
Our standard turnaround time is 10-15 business days, depending on sample complexity and analysis requirements. Expedited testing services are available for time-sensitive projects such as active spill response or litigation support.
Who needs hydrocarbon fingerprinting?
Hydrocarbon fingerprinting is essential for situations where contamination source identification is critical, including:
- Environmental consultants: Conducting site assessments and remediation planning
- Legal professionals: Building cases for contamination liability
- Property developers: Evaluating historical contamination on potential development sites
- Insurance companies: Assessing claims related to contamination events
- Government agencies: Investigating pollution incidents and enforcing regulations
What’s the difference between standard TPH testing and hydrocarbon fingerprinting?
- Standard TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon) testing simply quantifies the amount of petroleum products present in a sample across broad carbon ranges.
- Hydrocarbon fingerprinting goes much further by identifying specific biomarkers, chemical patterns, and unique signatures that can pinpoint exact product types, brands, and approximate age of contamination.
What types of samples can be tested?
We can perform hydrocarbon fingerprinting on various sample types, including:
- Soil and sediment
- Groundwater and surface water
- Air and vapor
- Materials affected by contamination (concrete, building materials)
- Product samples for comparison analysis
How accurate is hydrocarbon fingerprinting for determining age of contamination?
While not providing an exact date, our hydrocarbon fingerprinting can estimate relative age based on weathering patterns, degradation rates, and the presence of specific compounds.
This analysis can often distinguish between recent contamination and historical releases, which is crucial for liability determination.
Unlock the Source of Contamination with Expert Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting
Leeder Analytical delivers precise, reliable Hydrocarbon Fingerprinting to:
- Identify specific contamination sources with scientific accuracy
- Support legal proceedings with court-defensible analysis
- Guide targeted remediation based on contaminant characteristics
- Meet regulatory requirements for environmental site assessment
Let’s Discuss Your Testing Needs! Get expert guidance and comprehensive contamination source analysis.
Call: +613 9481 4167<
