In-Situ Burning of Oil in Coastal Marshes. 2. Oil Spill Cleanup Efficiency as a Function of Oil Type, Marsh Type, and Water Depth

• Published in: Environmental science & technology 2005-03, Vol.39 (6), p.1855-1860
• Main Authors: Lin, Qianxin, Mendelssohn, Irving A, Carney, Kenneth, Miles, Scott M, Bryner, Nelson P, Walton, William D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkanes - analysis; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Continental surface waters; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecosystem; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Fires; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geologic Sediments; Marine; Natural water pollution; Petroleum; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Soil and sediments pollution; Water Pollution - prevention & control; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es0490626

In-situ burning of spilled oil, which receives considerable attention in marine conditions, could be an effective way to cleanup wetland oil spills. An experimental in-situ burn was conducted to study the effects of oil type, marsh type, and water depth on oil chemistry and oil removal efficiency from the water surface and sediment. In-situ burning decreased the total targeted alkanes and total targeted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the burn residues as compared to the pre-burn diesel and crude oils. Removal was even more effective for short-chain alkanes and low ring-number PAHs. Removal efficiencies for alkanes and PAHs were >98% in terms of mass balance although concentrations of some long-chain alkanes and high ring-number PAHs increased in the burn residue as compared to the pre-burn oils. Thus, in-situ burning potentially prevents floating oil from drifting into and contaminating adjacent habitats and penetrating the sediment. In addition, in-situ burning significantly removed diesel oil that had penetrated the sediment for all water depths. Furthermore, in-situ burning at a water depth 2 cm below the soil surface significantly removed crude oil that had penetrated the sediment. As a result, in-situ burning may reduce the long-term impacts of oil on benthic organisms.