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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology
Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
ISSN: 1735-1472 EISSN: 1735-1472
Vol. 13, No. 2, 2016, pp. 403-412
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Bioline Code: st16036
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2016, pp. 403-412
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Estimating diluted bitumen entrained by suspended sediments in river rapids using O2 absorption rate
Perez, S.; Furlan, P.; Ellenberger, S. & Banker, P.
Abstract
Suspended sediments and river rapids can
cause oil slicks to fragment and sink, greatly complicating
the cleanup process of a spill. Responders need methods for
estimating the severity of spilled oil entrainment in rivers
in order to properly plan resource allocation. This work
presents a novel technique for predicting the amount of oil
entrained by suspended sediments in rivers, using the
atmospheric oxygen absorption rate of rivers as a way to
estimate the surface turbulence. The technique may be used
by measuring the gas transfer velocity or by using parametric
equations for gas transfer velocity based on river
parameters such as slope, depth, and discharge rate. In very
turbulent rapids, 13 % of a diluted bitumen slick could be
brought down by clay-sized sediments in about 10 min if
the sediment concentration is high enough, and 80 %
would be brought down in 2 h.
Keywords
Dilbit; Diluted bitumen; Enbridge spill; Kalamazoo River spill; River oil spill; Suspended sediments and oil spills
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