Experimental degradation of oil in permeable sand from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

• Published in: Chemistry and ecology Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 287 - 295
• Main Authors: Rasheed, Mohammad, Al Najjar, Tariq, Al-Masri, Mohamad G, Mian, Saima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01.08.2011; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biodegradation; Biological and medical sciences; Bioturbation; carbon; Carbonates; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental degradation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Gulf of Aqaba; Incubation period; Light; Marine; Mathematical analysis; mixing; Oil; oil degradation rate; Oil exploration; Oil sands; oils; Organic chemistry; Oxygen consumption; Permeability; permeable sand; Photodegradation; Physical properties; Sand; Sea water ecosystems; Sediment; Sediments; Silicates; Synecology; total hydrocarbons; Red Sea; Gulf of Aqaba; ISW, Red Sea; ISW, Red Sea, Aqaba Gulf; ISW, Jordan; Degradation; Marine environment; total hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbon; oil degradation rate; permeable sand; Gulf of Aqaba; Experimental study; Organic compounds; Tar sand
• ISSN: 1029-0370; 0275-7540; 1029-0370
• DOI: 10.1080/02757540.2011.561789

Degradation rates of light and heavy oil in permeable carbonate sands from the Gulf of Aqaba were investigated to evaluate the ability of sediments to degrade oil compounds. Silicate sands that are less permeable and different properties from carbonate sands were used for comparison. Estimates of oil degradation rates were based on oxygen consumption rates, calculated by incubating natural carbonate sands with oil. The degradation rates of light oil were twofold higher than those of heavy oil, which may be attributed to the presence of a higher carbon number in heavy oil compared with light oil. Degradation rates of light oil in carbonate sands were twofold higher than in silicate sands. Oil degradation rates calculated using the bottle incubation technique were three- to fourfold higher than rates from chamber incubations, indicating the importance of adequate mixing between oil particles and sediments during degradation processes. This study suggests that permeable sands, through their chemical and physical properties, increase oil biodegradation rates by enhancing flow through sediment particles and positively impacting bioturbation processes.