A\nMicro Total Analysis\nSystem (μTAS) for the <i>In Situ</i>, Real-Time Tracking\nof Produced Water Discharges\nthrough Detection of PAHs and Other Aromatic Compounds

Here, we present\na novel micro Total Analysis System\n(μTAS)\nfor the measurement of poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and\nother aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) in water at ng/L levels <i>in situ</i> and in real time (IMiRO). The μTAS is based\non in-line membrane extraction followed by detection of extracted\naromatic substances with fluorescence. An offshore field demonstration\nof the method was conducted close to produced water (PW) discharged\nin the North Sea. PW was monitored with the IMiRO μTAS and compared\nto results from a simultaneously conducted independent tracer release\nexperiment, where fluorescein was added to the PW as a tracer. The\nμTAS monitoring and fluorescein tracer experiment showed similar\nability to track the dispersion of the PW plume in space, depth, and\ntime. Moreover, the method detected the sum of phenanthrenes and the\nsum of heavier PAHs with limits of detection down to 6 ng/L, with\na response time of 6 min. The novel μTAS system opens up for <i>in situ</i> real-time discharge monitoring of both permitted\nand accidental oil or PW releases from oil platforms as well as other\nsources. Such monitoring can also be used to test and verify dispersion\nmodels used for environmental risk assessment.