Viscosity properties of mineral paraffinic base oils as a key factor in their primary biodegradability

Biodegradation pattern of hydrocarbons from a fuel oil-type complex residue by an emulsifier-producing microbial consortium

The biodegradation of a hazardous waste (bilge waste), a fuel oil-type complex residue from normal ship operations, was studied in a batch bioreactor using a microbial consortium in seawater medium. Experiments with initial concentrations of 0.18 and 0.53% (v/v) of bilge waste were carried out. In order to study the biodegradation kinetics, the mass of n-alkanes, resolved hydrocarbons and unresolved complex mixture (UCM) hydrocarbons were assessed by gas chromatography (GC). Emulsification was detected in both experiments, possibly linked to the n-alkanes depletion, with differences in emulsification start times and extents according to the initial hydrocarbon concentration. Both facts influenced the hydrocarbon biodegradation kinetics. A sequential biodegradation of n-alkanes and UMC was found for the higher hydrocarbon content. Being the former growth associated, while UCM biodegradation was a non-growing process showing enzymatic-type biodegradation kinetics. For the lower hydrocarbon concentration, simultaneous biodegradation of n-alkanes and UMC were found before emulsification. Nevertheless, certain UCM biodegradation was observed after the medium emulsification. According to the observed kinetics, three main types of hydrocarbons (n-alkanes, biodegradable UCM and recalcitrant UCM) were found adequate to represent the multicomponent substrate (bilge waste) for future modelling of the biodegradation process.

Biodegradabilities of some chain oils in groundwater as determined by the respirometric BOD OxiTop method

The respirometric BOD OxiTop method was used to monitor the biodegradation of different chain oils (mineral, rapeseed and tall oils) over 28 days in groundwater, as well as in standard conditions described by OECD 301 F. The aim of the study was to gather more information about the biodegradability of forestry oils in groundwater, as well as about the suitability of the automatic OxiTop method for biodegradation measurements. The BOD OxiTop method proved to be a precise and reliable technique for determining the biodegradations of different oils. Some comparative studies were also made using a traditional IR method in order to clarify the total oil concentrations. The results show that if biodegradation only is to be monitored, the OxiTop method is preferable. This is due to the influence of other reactions aside from biodegradation on total hydrocarbon concentrations when using the IR method.

Separation of coal-tar constituents from soil particles in a two-liquid-phase slurry system

An evaluation has been made of the capability of rapeseed oil to dissolve polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) crystals in a biphasic system and of its capability to extract PAHs from polluted soil in a two-liquid-phase (TLP) slurry system. Up to 220 g l(-1) of the crystalline hydrocarbons could be dissolved in the organic phase, indicating oil/water-partitioning coefficients of 10(5). When soil from a former gasworks site was treated in a TLP slurry system, it was found that a certain critical amount of vegetable oil had to be added in order to form a free oil phase. Single and multiple extractions gave similar results for multiple short-term and single long-term treatments, with a maximum of 87% for pyrene release. Following a 30-day bioslurry treatment, the total concentration of the 16 EPA PAHs in the soil decreased from 2740 mg kg(-1) to 1366 mg kg(-1). This was followed by one of three different 12-day post-bioslurry treatments. Further bioslurry treatment reduced the final concentration to 1002 mg kg(-1). Abiotic treatment with a surfactant (Brij 30) achieved a reduction to 797 mg kg(-1). Treatment with rapeseed oil gave the best reduction to 343 mg kg(-1).

Multiple regression modelling of mineral base oil biodegradability based on their physical properties and overall chemical composition

A set of 38 mineral base oils was characterized by a number of chemical (i.e., overall chemical composition) and physical parameters used routinely in industry. Their primary biodegradability was evaluated using the CEC L-33-A-93 test. Multiple (stepwise) linear regression (MLR) analyses were performed to describe the relationships between the biodegradability values and the chemical or physical properties of oils. Chemical, physical, and both types of parameters were successively used as independent variables. Using chemical descriptors as variables, a four-variable model equation was obtained that explained only 68.2% (adjusted R-squared statistic=68.2%) of the variability in biodegradability. The fitting was improved by using either the physical or the whole parameters as variables. MLR analyses led to three-descriptor model equations involving kinematic viscosity (as log), Noack volatility (as log) and either the viscosity index (pure physical model) or the paraffinic carbon percentage (mixed chemical-physical model). These two models displayed very similar adjusted R-squared statistics, of approximately 91%. Their predicting ability was verified using 25 additional base oils or oil blends. For 80% of oils on a total of 63, the absolute percentage error on biodegradability predicted by either model was lower than 20%. Kinematic viscosity was by far the most influential parameter in the two models.