Discriminatory Analysis of Marine-Engine Lubricants Using Hopane Biomarkers.

Twenty marine-engine lubricants from five Japanese oil companies were discriminated on the basis on a hopane analysis using a gas chromatograph−mass spectrometer (GC−MS). The hopane ratios of 18α-22,29,30-trisnorneohopane (1) to 17α-22,29,30-trisnorhopane (2) and of 17α-21β(H)-norhopane (3) to 17α-21β(H)-hopane (5) were determined. Each lubricant can be discriminated by combining the figures represented by the 1to 2and 3to 5ratios and principal component analysis from 1through (22R)-17α-21β(H)-29-pentakishomohopane (15). Oleanane (4), one of the biomarkers inherent in the crude oils from Southeast Asia, has been detected in the lubricants of eight out of 20 types, and 4represents a significant feature for the discrimination. The discrimination of the lubricants in the spilled oils was also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]