Author(s): R. Samuel Devadoss; S. A. Sannasiraj; K. Murali
Linked Author(s): Madhu Krishna Murali, Sannasi Annamalaisamy Sannasiraj
Keywords: Oil spill; Oil mineral dispersants; Breaking waves; Beach deposition; Wave flume
Abstract: Experimental investigations were performed to find out the efficiency of clay mineral fines in mitigating surface spilled oil. The experiments were conducted in a specially designed wave flume for oil spill studies and equipped with controlled mixing energy conditions (non-breaking and breaking waves). Quantification of oil mineral aggregation effectiveness was based on observed changes in dispersed oil concentrations and distribution of oil in the beach sediments at the surface and inside the beach. The experimental study results quantitatively demonstrated that total dispersed oil concentration in the water column were strongly dependent on the presence of mineral aggregates and the influence of breaking waves. From the results it is visible that, as the beach material is finer and in suspension the ratio of oil concentration with and without the addition of clay mineral fines, increases at the beach surface, which results in better mitigation effects.
Year: 2010