Evaporation of Heavy Crude Oil in Soil

Abstract

Heavy crude oil spillage on soil threatens productivity and affects the natural biota of the ecosystem. Evaporation is an important parameter increases crude oil density, viscosity and fraction of lower molecular weight substances which reduce its infiltration into the soil and groundwater. The evaporation of heavy crude oil showed API of 21.5, viscosity of 15mm2/s, density 0.8952 g/cm3, pour point of 11.37. The crude oil was exposed to solar radiation for 35 days. The percentage reduction in mass of the crude oil and temperature on five day interval showed 8.22(38OC) on day 0, on day 5 was 8.13(34oC), on day 10 was 5.92(39oC), on day 15 was 5.38(39oC), on day 20 was 3.16(37oC), on day 25 was 2.94(31oC), on day 20 was 2.56 (41oC) and on day 35 was 1.79(38oC). The lighter molecules evaporated first leaving the heavier molecules behind causing a reduction in the rate of evaporation with time. This analysis will be provide insight to modelling oil spill in terrestrial ecosystem.