"Unresolved Complex Mixture" (UCM): A brief history of the term and moving beyond it

Authors

John W. Farrington, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
James G. Quinn, University of Rhode Island

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

7-15-2015

Abstract

The term "Unresolved Complex Mixture" (UCM) has been used extensively for decades to describe a gas chromatographic characteristic indicative of the presence of fossil fuel hydrocarbons (mainly petroleum hydrocarbons) in hydrocarbons isolated from aquatic samples. We chronicle the origin of the term. While it is still a useful characteristic for screening samples, more modern higher resolution two dimensional gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with advanced mass spectrometry techniques (Time-of-Flight or Fourier Transform-Ion Cyclotron Resonance) should be employed for analyses of petroleum contaminated samples. This will facilitate advances in understanding of the origins, fates and effects of petroleum compounds in aquatic environments.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Volume

96

Issue

1-2

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Farrington, John W., and James G. Quinn. ""Unresolved Complex Mixture" (UCM): A brief history of the term and moving beyond it." Marine Pollution Bulletin 96, 1-2 (2015). doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.04.039.