US EPA

1483045 

Journal Article 

Rapid weathering processes of fuel oil in natural waters: Analyses and interpretations 

Zurcher, F; Thuer, M 

1978 

1 

Environmental Science & Technology
ISSN: 0013-936X
EISSN: 1520-5851 

HEEP/79/00459 

12 

7 

838-843 

English 

https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/rapid-weathering-processes-fuel-oil-natural/docview/13919754/se-2?accountid=171501
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HEEP COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. The fate-determining steps of weathering petroleum in the aquatic environment were studied in model experiments. Capillary column gas chromatography and IR absorption measurements showed different weathering processes for No. 2 fuel oil, depending on the turbulence and the level of suspended solids (kaolinite) in water during experiments. Partial dissolution, adsorption, dispersion and agglomeration of No. 2 fuel oil initially occurred and resulted in the fractionation of the original oil mixture. Alkylated benzenes and naphthalenes were enriched in the water phase (up to 5 mg/l), certain aliphatic hydrocarbons above MW 250 were adsorbed onto kaolinite (200 mg/kg) and oil droplets were agglomerated with suspended minerals (20 g/kg) after increased turbulence. The same fractionation pattern was observed for a ground water oil spill, although the oil was already biochemically altered. 

Analysis; Modelling (-general-); Suspended; Aqualine Abstracts; AQ 00008:Effects of Pollution