Policing waterways for hydrocarbons

Describes the various sensing techniques that can be employed to monitor hydrocarbons in water, which can be applied to continuous organic monitoring as well as the detection of major chemical spills. Outlines the methods of analysing water to measure for total carbons, total organic carbons, volatile chemicals and total oxygen demand and the problems of making effective measurements. Concludes that successful monitoring of hydrocarbons in water often requires a tailored approach depending on the characteristics of the sample and the site of the instruments, and therefore close consultation with the monitoring authorities and the instrument manufacturer are essential.