ABSTRACT
The petroleum hydrocarbon composition of sediments from Qua Iboe River Estuary, Ibeno, South-Eastern Nigeria, was studied to determine the levels of these hydrocarbons in the marine environment. Ten sediment sites were sampled using a van veen Grab sampler. Chemical parameter, such as total organic carbon (TOC), was assessed using Blackey-walkey titration method. Soluble organic matter (SOM) was assessed using sohxlet extraction method and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) was assessed using liquid column chromatography to fractionate the hydrocarbons. The results obtained show that the TOC contents range from 1.02% to 2.03% while the SOM contents of the sediments range from 0.2 x104 to 1.3 x lo4 ppm. This shows that the sediments are very rich in organic matter. The TPH contents ranged from 7.9 x 1 o4 ppm to 74.1 x 1 o4 ppm. The values are all above the permissible limit for hydrocarbon pollution in sediment. Deduction from this study reveals heavy pollution of Qua Iboe River with petroleum hydrocarbon.