Abstract
This paper describes recent advances in microscopic analysis for quantitative measurement of oil droplets. Integration of a microscope with bright‐field and ultraviolet epi‐fluorescence illumination (excitation wavelengths 340–380 nm; emission wavelengths 400–430 nm) fitted with a computer‐controlled motorized stage, a high resolution digital camera, and new image‐analysis software, enables automatic acquisition of multiple images and facilitates efficient counting and sizing of oil droplets. Laboratory experiments were conducted with this system to investigate the size distribution of chemically dispersed oil droplets and oil‐mineral aggregates in baffled flasks that have been developed for testing chemical dispersant effectiveness. Image acquisition and data processing methods were developed to illustrate the size distribution of chemically dispersed oil droplets, as a function of energy dissipation rate in the baffled flasks, and the time‐dependent change of the morphology and size distribution of oil‐mineral aggregates. As a quantitative analytical tool, epi‐fluorescence microscopy shows promise for application in research on oil spill response technologies, such as evaluating the effectiveness of chemical dispersant and characterizing the natural interaction between oil and mineral fines and other suspended particulate matters.
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