Hydrocarbons enter the environment from a wide range of sources and are complex in nature. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) refers to the measurable amount of petroleum-based hydrocarbons in an environmental matrix. No single procedure can give an overall picture of hydrocarbon contamination since two categories of organic molecules are present – volatile and semi-volatile or non-volatile compounds. We use two instrumental techniques to determine TPH:

• C6 to C9 (volatiles) – samples are determined by purge and trap GC-MS
• C10 to C36 (semi-volatiles) – samples are determined by GC-FID

The TPH test is then reported in bands as TPH C6 to C9, C10 to C14, C15 to C28 and C29 to C36 bands. 

NMI offers additional services to help organisations with hydrocarbon identification and the risk assessment process. Click here for more information on the TPH analyses we provide.

For further information please contact:
enviro@measurement.gov.au
Sydney 02 9449 0111 – click here for further contact details
Melbourne 03 9644 4888
Perth 08 9368 8400