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Biodegradability of Dispersants and Dispersed ANS Crude Oil at Two Temperatures

Abulikemu, Gulizhaer
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1427962547

Abstract Details

2015, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Environmental Engineering.
Accidental oil spills into oceans account for a large part of the total oil discharged in the environment. If prompt responses are not instigated, the spilled oil will spread on the water surface and possibly reach the shorelines, and adversely affect the marine and coastal environment as well as the biota. The use of chemical dispersants is one of the common oil spill cleanup techniques. Dispersants break down the large oil slicks into small droplets and thus mitigate the harmful effects of oil slicks on the shorelines, birds, and mammals. Despite their advantages like speedy treatment of large spill areas, applicability in harsh weather conditions, and possible promotion of biodegradation, concerns about dispersants effectiveness and toxicity as well as long-term environmental impacts limit their application. In the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, responders delivered Corexit dispersants (mostly Corexit 9500, C9500) to the sea surface and the wellhead in unprecedented amounts (1.84 million gallons). Although the toxicity studies by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency have demonstrated very low acute toxicity of C9500, long term environmental effects of the dispersants and the dispersed oil are still unknown. The biodegradation of dispersed oil has been intensively investigated, but only a limited number of studies provided systematic and quantified analyses. Besides, there is a lack of information about the fate of dispersant itself. To answer these questions, this study evaluated the biodegradation of Alaska North Slope Oil (ANS), dispersed ANS and dispersant itself by estimating first-order decay rate coefficients of the oil components, as well as the surfactants included in the dispersants. Two types of dispersant products, C9500 and JD-2000, were tested to determine their effects on oil biodegradation and to investigate their degradation as well. We also evaluated the effect of temperature by comparing the results of experiments at 25 and 5 °C. This research provided systematic and quantitative information about the biodegradation process of the oil components and the dispersant products under different conditions, which could serve as a reference for selecting a proper dispersant product to assist oil spills cleanup activities.
Pablo Campo-Moreno, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
George Sorial, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Makram Suidan, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
67 p.
Environmental Engineering
dispersants; biodegradation; oil spill; dispersed oil; ANS crude oil

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Abulikemu, G. (2015). Biodegradability of Dispersants and Dispersed ANS Crude Oil at Two Temperatures [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1427962547

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Abulikemu, Gulizhaer. Biodegradability of Dispersants and Dispersed ANS Crude Oil at Two Temperatures. 2015. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1427962547.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Abulikemu, Gulizhaer. "Biodegradability of Dispersants and Dispersed ANS Crude Oil at Two Temperatures." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1427962547

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1427962547
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.