Abstract
Oil-particle interactions play a major role in removal of free oil from the water column. We present a new conceptual-numerical model, A-DROP, to predict oil amount trapped in oil-particle aggregates. A new conceptual formulation of oil-particle coagulation efficiency is introduced to account for the effects of oil stabilization by particles, particle hydrophobicity, and oil-particle size ratio on OPA formation. A-DROP was able to closely reproduce the oil trapping efficiency reported in experimental studies. The model was then used to simulate the OPA formation in a typical nearshore environment. Modeling results indicate that the increase of particle concentration in the swash zone would speed up the oil-particle interaction process; but the oil amount trapped in OPAs did not correspond to the increase of particle concentration. The developed A-DROP model could become an important tool in understanding the natural removal of oil and developing oil spill countermeasures by means of oil-particle aggregation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 245-259 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Marine Pollution Bulletin |
Volume | 106 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 15 2016 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Oceanography
- Aquatic Science
- Pollution
Keywords
- Nearshore environment
- OPA formation
- Oil spill
- Oil trapping rate
- Oil-particle aggregation