Author(s)

Stephen M. Mudge & Nicholas Miller

Abstract

Experiments conducted in artificial sand columns with Brent Crude Oil have demonstrated the loss of short-chain volatile %-alkanes from the surface and the chromatographic separation of the remaining compounds down core. The weathering index ranged from ~4 in the crude oil to ~0.3 after 14 days. Biodiesel derived from rapeseed oil was able to dissolve the remaining heavy fractions and these were carried into the sediments. Periodic washing with clean seawater was also able to lift more of the crude oil from the sediment than untreated sands. The effectiveness of the biodiesel in increasing the mobility of the residual crude oil fractions was dependent upon the time of addition after a spill; the shorter the delay, the more effective the system. Previous experiments have demonstrated the rapidi

Keywords