Thesis Title: Determination of the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons  in water column following in-situ burning

Monday 15 July 2019, at: 15:00, Venue: Hall Κ2.A3

Examination Committee

• Professor Nicolas Kalogerakis (advisor)
• Professor Nikolaos Pasadakis
• Dr. Eleftheria Antoniou

Abstract

The need for oil extraction and use is constantly increasing, which is directly linked, despite high safety measures, to the risk of significant leakage and the formation of oil spills in the marine environment. Oil spills need to be effaced as they can have significant impact on the marine ecosystem. Various methods of treatment have been developed, which may be either natural or chemical. The choice of the most appropriate method depends on a number of factors related to the type and composition of the oil, the characteristics of the area in which it spilled, the environmental conditions affecting the oil dispersion, degradation and evaporation. However, some of the methods can be harmful to the ecosystem when applied.

This diploma thesis examines the impact of in-situ burning (ISB) as an oil spill response technique. More specifically, its subject is the determination of hydrocarbons concentration in water column after in-situ burning. If this method is applied under the right conditions, it can remove a very large amount of the spilled oil in a very short time and contribute to environmental protection as the response time of the process is very short and the pollutant does not have time to change, in terms of composition, and spread on the surface. Despite these facts, it has two very toxic byproducts, the residue (unburned oil) and the smoke of combustion. The hydrocarbons pass in the water column from the burned residue. For this study, a large-scale (mesocosm) experiment was designed and carried out in collaboration with Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), which emulated real burning conditions. The aim is to quantify the potential impact of the ISB as a first response method.