Comparison of Black Carbon (Soot) Analysis Methods for Samples in the Proximity of Oil-field Flares

Black carbon, or soot (<0.1 microns in diameter), results from incompletely combusted fuel released to the atmosphere; in this case soil samples were collected on the Fort Berthold reservation within a region of extensive oil-field flaring. Analysis of soot can be varied, wherein evaluation of organic carbon can be accomplished by several methods, as can removal of inorganic carbonates as well as quantitation of total inorganic carbon. Analyses showed variation by method.