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Chemical Analysis of Water-accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil Spills Using TIMS-FT-ICR MS
Published on: March 3, 2017
Photodegradation of crude oil on a solid support
Maurizio D'Auria1, Lucia Emanuele, Rocco Racioppi
1Dipartimento di Chimica, Università della Basilicata, Via N. Sauro 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy. Maurizio.dauria@unibas.it
Journal of Chromatographic Science
|May 2, 2009
Summary
Solid adsorbents like montmorillonite and zeolite can protect crude oil from photodegradation. Montmorillonite provided the best protection against light-induced modifications, while zeolite was least effective.
Area of Science:
- Petroleum geochemistry
- Photochemistry
- Materials science
Background:
- Crude oil undergoes complex modifications when exposed to environmental factors.
- Solid supports can influence the stability and degradation pathways of organic compounds.
- Photodegradation is a significant concern for the preservation of petroleum hydrocarbons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of silica, montmorillonite, and zeolite on crude oil composition after absorption.
- To evaluate the protective effects of these solid supports against photodegradation.
- To develop a method for quantifying the modifications in crude oil.
Main Methods:
- Solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) was used for detailed chemical analysis.
- Analysis focused on changes in compound classes (alkanes, alkenes, aromatics) and carbon number distributions.
- Crude oil samples adsorbed on solids were subjected to irradiation using a mercury arc lamp.
Main Results:
- All tested solid supports demonstrated a capacity to prevent photodegradation of crude oil.
- Montmorillonite exhibited the most significant preservative effect, minimizing light-induced chemical changes.
- Zeolite showed the least protective effect, with more substantial modifications observed in absorbed crude oil.
Conclusions:
- Solid adsorbents can mitigate photodegradation of crude oil, with varying efficacy.
- Montmorillonite is a highly effective material for preserving crude oil integrity against light exposure.
- The choice of solid support is crucial for managing and preserving petroleum hydrocarbon compositions.
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