Oil Irradiation Experiments Document Changes in Oil Properties, Molecular Composition, and Dispersant Effectiveness Associated with Oil Photo-Oxidation.

ABSTRACT: While chemical dispersants are a powerful tool for treating spilled oil, their effectiveness can be limited by oil weathering processes such as evaporation and emulsification. It has been suggested that oil photo-oxidation could exacerbate these challenges. To address the role of oil photo-oxidation in dispersant effectiveness, outdoor mesocosm experiments with crude oil on seawater were performed. Changes in bulk oil properties and molecular composition were quantified to characterize oil photo-oxidation over 11 days. To test relative dispersant effectiveness, oil residues were evaluated using the Baffled Flask Test. The results show that oil irradiation led to oxygen incorporation, formation of oxygenated hydrocarbons, and higher oil viscosities. Oil irradiation was associated with decre

SUBMITTER: Aeppli C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9552565 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature