Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations in a waste from fuel oil spill and its mixture with other materials: Time-course evolution

Abstract

Taking into account the repercussions of fuel oil spills on waste generation and sustainability of the affected industries, in this work 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were quantified on waste from a fuel oil spill, sewage sludge, wood ash, slate fines, and quicklime. The same hydrocarbons and its time-course evolution were determined on a mixture including all these materials. The aim of this work was to test the efficacy of that novel mixture as an alternative to easily stabilizing the fuel oil waste. Regarding individual materials, the highest hydrocarbons concentrations were found on fuel oil waste, on sewage sludge, quick-lime, wood ash, and slate fines. Comparing the actual hydrocarbons concentrations detected on each individual starting material, and those estimated taking into account the amounts included in the mixture, the mixing process allowed a notable reduction in hydrocarbons concentrations. Specifically, the sum of hydrocarbons concentrations was reduced in 37%, with the highest decreases affecting to pyrene, benzo[e]pyrene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene, which were not detected in the mixture. After 180 days of storage, just fluorene, anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, and naphthalene presented lower concentrations. Finally, after 365 days of storage, all hydrocarbons showed clearly lower concentrations compared to time 0 from the preparation of the stabilized mixture, with decrease between 23 and 95% for the different individual hydrocarbons. In view of these results, it can be concluded that the preparation of mixtures as that here studied could aid to facilitate the management of wastes from fuel oil spills, also favoring the recycling of the other waste materials included.