Biogeochemical characterization of MC252 oil:sand aggregates on a coastal headland beach

Authors

Marilany Urbano, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States.
Vijaikrishnah Elango, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States. Electronic address: njafari@lsu.edu.
Curtis M. Oldenburg, Energy Geosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States. Electronic address: cmoldenburg@lbl.gov.
Michael D. Caldwell, Groundwater and Technical Program, Waste Management, Inc., Houston, TX, United States. Electronic address: mcaldwell@wm.com.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-15-2013

Abstract

MC252 oil:sand aggregates, termed surface residue balls (SRBs), were sampled for physical, chemical and microbial characteristics from different tidal zones on a coastal headland beach in Louisiana, USA. Supratidal SRBs were smaller, had low moisture content, and salinities that were <2 ppt. Intertidal SRBs were hypersaline and had higher N and sulfate concentrations, consistent with regular tidal inundation. Crude oil components were highest in the intertidal "oil mat" SRBs with C1- and C2-phenanthrenes, C2- and C3-dibenzothiophenes comprising the majority of the PAH concentrations. In the other SRB categories, PAHs and alkanes were depleted and profiles were skewed toward higher molecular weight compounds. Oxygen microelectrode measurements demonstrated that saturated O2 is present immediately after wetting, but O2 consumption in the interior of the aggregate occurs after a few days. Microbial populations varied with position on the beach but sequences similar to known PAH-degrading taxa (Mycobacterium sp. and Stenotrophomonas sp.) were observed.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Marine pollution bulletin

First Page

183

Last Page

91

Recommended Citation

Urbano, M., Elango, V., Oldenburg, C. M., & Caldwell, M. D. (2013). Biogeochemical characterization of MC252 oil:sand aggregates on a coastal headland beach. Marine pollution bulletin, 77 (1-2), 183-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.10.006