Oil-particle interactions in aquatic environments: Influence on the transport, fate, effect and remediation of oil spills

During the last decade, there has been a growing interest in the natural interaction between spilled oil and particles in aquatic environments due to recognition of its influence on residual oil persistence. Both organic (e.g. phytoplankton, fecal pellets) and inorganic particles (e.g. mineral fines) have been implicated in the transport of oil from surface waters to the benthic environment. In particular, the formation of oil-mineral aggregates (OMA) has been shown to contribute to the removal of stranded oil from low-energy, intertidal environments. This natural self-cleaning process is attributed to the reduction in oil adhesion when oil droplets become stabilized by their interaction with mineral fines. Increasing knowledge of this process has fostered the development and evaluation of oil spill countermeasure strategies based on the promotion of oil-particle interactions. To validate and optimize the application of these techniques, an international research effort is now focused on the mechanism and factors, which influence the rate and extent of OMA formation and the significance of OMA formation on the persistence and biological effects of residual oil in the environment. In addition to providing guidance for the application of remedial treatments based on the enhancement of OMA formation, these studies have improved our ability to predict natural rates of recovery following spill events. Crown Copyright (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.