title: Effect of environmental factors on photodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water-soluble fraction of Kuwait crude oil in seawater.
abstract: Photodegradation of PAHs in the water-soluble fraction of Kuwait crude oil in seawater was investigated under various environmental factors (temperature, light intensity, oxygen levels and presence of a sensitizer) in laboratory conditions. All factors investigated had significant effect on the degradation rates of PAHs. At 15 °C almost all PAHs optimally degraded at an oxygen level of 4 ppm. For lower molecular weight PAHs a light intensity of 500 W/m(2) in the presence of the sensitizer worked well. Higher molecular weight PAHs degraded at faster rates at a light intensity 750 W/m(2). At 30 °C, most of the PAHs degraded optimally at an oxygen level of 0 ppm and light intensity of 500 or 750 W/m(2) in presence of the sensitizer. At 40 °C, most of PAHs degraded optimally at low oxygen concentrations (0 and 4 ppm) and a light intensity of 500 W/m(2) in the presence of the sensitizer. Linear regression indicated that for most of the compounds, light intensity had the greatest effect on degradation rates.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Sciences Department, Environmental & Urban Development Division, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat. tsaeed@kisr.edu.kw
authors.forename: Talat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: Lulwa N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Bloushi
authors.forename: Huda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Hashash
authors.forename: Majed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Bahloul
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Khabbaz
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Khayat
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007730:Kuwait; D016014:Linear Models; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis; D010782:Photolysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010100:Oxygen