Short and long term impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are not fully understood.  Many of the fundamental photochemical processes have not been investigated. In this study, surface oil samples were placed in a thin film over Gulf water and irradiated with simulated sunlight.  Dichloromethane extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography, fluorescence, and absorbance. The aqueous layer was collected and analyzed using HPLC, LC-MS, and Microtox.  Systems were also modified by addition of nano-TiO2 (nanoparticles or nanotubes).  Benzoic acid was also used as a probe to measure hydroxyl radical in the water phase.  The toxicity of water in contact with oil during irradiation was observed through Microtox analysis.  GC-MS was used to identify components and biomarkers in the oil layer. The irradiated oil showed substantial hydroxyl radical production.  TiO2 nanotubes showed increased oil photodegradation compared to pure oil.  Microtox analysis showed an increase in water toxicity with irradiation.

Photochemical and photocatalytic transformations of surface crude oil in seawater systems

245th National Meeting (2013)

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