Thesis Title: «Experimental design, modes of operation and sampling a high pressure reactor»

 Monday  7 October 2019, at: 13:00 ,Venue: Hall Κ2.A3

Examination Committee

• Professor  Nicolas Kalogerakis (advisor)
• Dr Elefteria Antoniou
• Dr Elefteria Gontikaki

Abstract

The oil is primarily a mixture of acyclic and cyclic hydrocarbons, several aromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, xylenes, naphthalene) as well as several carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs. Marine pollution from oil and distillation products is particularly important. All water resources receive sufficient quantities of crude oil due to accidental or natural leakages of oil as well as wastes from the processing and distribution of petroleum products. So as human offshore activities are increasing having highly detrimental effects on the marine environment, it is imperative to tighten and immediate protection measures establishing an international framework to preserve its quality.

The spark of this research work is the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil platform, of BP Company, in April 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the most important naval tanker accidents of the past 20 years worldwide. Over four million oil barrels were released in the sea, resulting in the death of 11 workers at the moment of the explosion. The aim of the present study is the oil dissolution in the marine environment, both under high (up to 100 bars) and atmospheric pressure. Initially, experimental tests were performed using incubator chambers to represent the oil leakage and to comment on the natural solubility of oil. Then, using the Baffle Flask Test method, the maximum amount of dissolved oil at atmospheric pressure as a function of stirring time, was determined. Finally, biodegradation experiment was performed using the high pressure reactor, with the addition of sea microbes, nutrients and dispersant Corexit9500A, at 100bars pressure.