Abstract
ABSTRACT Small-scale shaker flask experiments were conducted over 56 days with a weathered crude oil to investigate the significance of clay-oil flocculation processes on natural oil degradation rates. Clay-oil flocculation processes mediated the transfer of oil from solid surfaces into the aqueous phase where oil biodegradation rates are higher. As a result, within 7 days, 34% of the total n-alkanes (n-C12 to n-C35) were degraded in the oiled flasks containing mineral fines whereas no significant degradation was observed in flasks without mineral fines. After 56 days, only 25% and 48% of the n-alkane fraction remained in the flasks treated with and without mineral fines, respectively. No significant difference was observed between treatments for a selected number of 2-4 ring aromatic compounds. Microbiological results that showed an increase in the numbers of oil-degrading bacteria supported the results and conclusions derived from the chemical data.
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