Relationship between sediment morphology and oil pollution along the Suez Canal beaches, Egypt

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Energy Sources

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00908319608908807· OSTI ID:404500

Barakat, M A.K.; Shimy, T M; Mostafa, Y M ^[1]

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1. Egyptian Petroleum Research Inst., Cairo (Egypt)

In this study, marine surface sediments are collected from nine locations along the Suez Canal in order to investigate the relationship between the morphology of sands in the studied beaches and pollution by oil. Basically, the studied samples were analyzed by three techniques: grains-size analysis, microscopic examination, and gas chromatographic (GC) analysis. This study concluded that medium sand is the major class represented in the studied marine sediments. Pollution in these sand grains increases in the irregular grains more so than in the more rounded grains. Also, deep surface points, pitting, and fissures are considered to be good sites to precipitate oil contamination. Also, the presence of iron oxides may be taken as evidence for tanker ballast washings. The heavy fraction (zircon) shows more contamination than the light fraction (quartz) in these samples. Finally, GC profiles have shown two types of samples: one typical of weathered or highly weathered crude oil patterns and the other for samples with very highly weathered profiles. The relationship obtained between morphology studies and both oil content and GC chromatogram profiles indicates that all of the studied locations are suffering from pollution of oil that is spilled while shipping petroleum through the Suez Canal.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 404500
• Journal Information: Energy Sources, Journal Name: Energy Sources Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 18; ISSN 0090-8312; ISSN EGYSAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
GEOMORPHOLOGY
LAND POLLUTION
OIL SPILLS
SHORES
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SUEZ CANAL
TANKER SHIPS