ABSTRACT
Given that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are among the most commonly detected organic contaminants in water, the general public becomes increasingly aware of the problems associated with the contamination of ground and surface water resources. Today, it has readily been demonstrated that advanced attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy techniques are capable of reliable hydrocarbon identification in geochemically relevant fluids. Besides in situ fingerprinting, in situ quantification of petroleum-based VOCs plays an important role in marine monitoring. A major factor impeding the progress in understanding and controlling petroleum-based contaminants in the coastal environment is the difficulty associated with sampling aqueous systems containing VOCs. Gas hydrates are clathrate compounds consisting of a rigid framework of water molecules bonded by two hydrogen bonds each and encasing usually small guest molecule inside the established cavities. Gas hydrates are an issue during gas/oil recovery because they may cause blockage of pipelines, which in turn leads to a reduced flow and therefore a reduced gas/oil production.
