Evaluation of biodiesel as bioremediation agent for the treatment of the shore affected by the heavy oil spill of the Prestige.
The efficiency of different bioremediation products (nutrients, microorganisms and biodiesel) was tested using tiles located in both the supra-littoral and intertidal zones of a beach that was affected by the heavy oil spill of the Prestige. Neither nutrients nor microorganisms meant an improvement with respect to the natural processes. The addition of biodiesel improved the appearance of the treated tiles and apparently accelerated the degradation of the aliphatic and aromatic fractions of the residual fuel oil. Nevertheless, PAHs degradation was similar and very high in all the treatments (80-85% after 60 days). On the other hand, the evolution with time of the amount of vanadium was similar to that of 17alpha(H),21beta(H)-hopane, so it was concluded that vanadium could also be used to estimate the extent of oil degradation in the field. These results also suggested that the residual fuel oil mineralization was very low throughout 1 year in all the treatments. Moreover, the increase of the oxygen content of the residual oil from around 1% till 4-8% indicated that the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons took place, and that the hydrocarbon oxidation products accumulated in the polar fractions. In general, the results pointed out that bioremediation techniques were not suitable for the recovery of shores affected by heavy oil spills.
Fernández-Alvarez
P
P
Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Avda. Lope Gómez de Marzoa, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Vila
J
J
Garrido
J M
JM
Grifoll
M
M
Feijoo
G
G
Lema
J M
JM
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D004952:Esters; D005648:Fuel Oils; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D012767:Ships; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D014639:Vanadium / Q000737:chemistry
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004952:Esters; D005648:Fuel Oils; D010938:Plant Oils; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014639:Vanadium