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Title: Fate of a tritiated Ekofisk crude oil in a controlled ecosystem experiment with North Sea plankton

Journal Article · · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00127a003· OSTI ID:6367349

Flexible plastic enclosures were employed with the main intent of determining the fate of an Ekofisk crude oil exposed to North Sea spring conditions. By use of a tritium-labeled Ekofisk crude oil, a dynamic model was developed that allowed calculation of vertical mass fluxes with depth based on actual concentration profiles and measured sedimentation rates. It has been concluded that adsorption and subsequent sedimentation of plankton and organic detritus may cause a rapid sinking of petroleum hydrocarbons. Microbial mineralization seemed to be insignificant on a short-term scale.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Bergen, Norway
OSTI ID:
6367349
Journal Information:
Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 18:9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English