Vegetable Oil Spills On Salt Marshes

Abstract

Abstract Following the wreck of the M.V. Kimya during which 1500 tonnes of sunflower oil was spilled, sandy sediments bound together with sunflower oil were discovered on the beach. These are still present 2½ years later. Sunflower and linseed oil were applied to salt marsh sediments to reproduce potential spills. Cores were taken and the vertical migration and degradation rates determined. Sunflower oil polymerised at the surface after 28 days resulting in the formation of a cap of increased shear strength and reduced permeability to water and oxygen. This contrasts with linseed oil that rapidly percolated to depth without the formation of a polymer. One degradation product formed from linseed oil was possibly 18:2ω3, although this has still to be confirmed. Increased bacterial numbers were observed with both oils. in the event of spill, these results suggest sunflower oil should be removed although linseed oil could be left to natural degradation processes.