[en] Methods of cleaning up following a 1994 train derailment involving six Bunker C tank cars in a remote region of Labrador were described. 345,000 litres of Bunker C spilled in a ditch, through a culvert and into a section of the Summit River. Methods used in the reclamation of the bunker oil from the tank cars, from inside the culvert, and from the bottom of the Summit River were also reviewed.Principal problems encountered in the clean-up included severe winter conditions, remoteness of the spill site, and the onset of spring breakup. 3 figs., 3 tabs

[en] Long-run adjustments in petroleum consumption are not only larger than short-run adjustments. They may also be motivated by entirely different price events. This analysis shows that new price peaks have both short-run and long-run consumption responses, a result that is starkly different than price changes that track previous price paths. It also establishes significant trend effects where gasoline and residual fuel oil consumption decline over time. The analysis explores these adjustments by establishing long-run cointegrating relationships for different petroleum product groupings. An important implication is that price increases above historical levels may be providing substantially greater incentives for significant long-run demand adjustments than would be the case otherwise. (author)

[en] Chemical dispersibility of heavy bunker fuel oil, which historically has been characterized as not dispersible, was studied, using the well-known SINTEF methodology for evaluating the dispersibility of fresh and weathered oils. Several heavy fuel oils, specifically IFO-380 fuel oils, were involved in the study. Corexit 9500, which has been shown to be effective for viscous and weathered oils, was used as the dispersant. Results indicated that in many cases heavy fuel oils are dispersible, and that viscosity and dispersant dosage are particularly important factors. As a general rule, more viscous and weathered oils were found to require longer time for the dispersion process to occur. The standard SINTEF laboratory effectiveness test, particularly the 60-minute extended -time MNS tests, have been found to be very useful in characterizing heavy fuel oil dispersibility. 17 refs., 5 tabs., 1 fig

[en] Highlights: • Short-term embryonic exposure of cod three different marine fuel oils. • AhR-, and angio- and osteogenesis gene batteries were studied in relation to phenotypic outcomes. • Comparable toxicological response trends observed for heavy fuel oil and low sulphur containing distillate fuel oils. • Effects on hatching and larvae morphology displayed higher sensitivity than molecular effects. Due to the heavy fuel oil (HFO) ban in Arctic maritime transport and new legislations restricting the sulphur content of fuel oils, new fuel oil types are continuously developed. However, the potential impacts of these new fuel oil types on marine ecosystems during accidental spills are largely unknown. In this study, we studied the toxicity of three marine fuel oils (two marine gas oils with low sulphur contents and a heavy fuel oil) in early life stages of cod (Gadus morhua). Embryos were exposed for 4 days to water-soluble fractions of fuel oils at concentrations ranging from 4.1 - 128.3 µg TPAH/L, followed by recovery in clean seawater until 17 days post fertilization. Exposure to all three fuel oils resulted in developmental toxicity, including severe morphological changes, deformations and cardiotoxicity. To assess underlying molecular mechanisms, we studied fuel oil-mediated activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) gene battery and genes related to cardiovascular, angiogenesis and osteogenesis pathways. Overall, our results suggest comparable mechanisms of toxicity for the three fuel oils. All fuel oils caused concentration-dependant increases of cyp1a mRNA which paralleled ahrr, but not ahr1b transcript expression. On the angiogenesis and osteogenesis pathways, fuel oils produced concentration-specific transcriptional effects that were either increasing or decreasing, compared to control embryos. Based on the observed toxic responses, toxicity threshold values were estimated for individual endpoints to assess the most sensitive molecular and physiological effects, suggesting that unresolved petrogenic components may be significant contributors to the observed toxicity.

[en] For intensification of oil refining without using secondary processes, thermodynamic parameters of gas condensate and residual fuel oil blends were calculated from experimental investigations involving inverse gas chromatography. Apparently, from thermodynamic parameters of gas condensate and residual fuel oil blend, it is possible to determine the optimal ratio of the components for increasing the yield of light fractions. It is likely that the new colloidal structure of the blend of the disperse system (residual fuel oil) with the homogeneous system (gas condensates) forms via formation of a semicolloidal system followed by restructurization due to intermolecular interaction and dissolution processes.

[en] Validation and implementation of a method to obtain the fingerprint of bunker samples was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The parameters considered in the validation were linearity, variance and analytical error. Linearity was evaluated with calibration curves from linear alkanes, the correlation coefficients obtained were greater than 0,9850. Variance was analyzed measuring eight times the same standard the coefficient of variation was less than 5%. For the analytical error a study of duplicate samples was performed, obtaining coefficients of variation between replicates under 5%. These data demonstrate that the validation is agreeing to the intended use of the method. A bunker sample was prepared by an extern to be unknown by the analyst to corroborate the method. The analyst was able to identify each of the samples by visual comparison and by diagnostic relations of the chromatograms. The results demonstrate that the method is effective to identify various samples by fingerprint comparison.(author)

[en] The PIXE technique for determining directly the distribution and abundance of trace metals in vacuum residuum, asphaltenes and maltenes separated with n-alkanes (C₅-C₈) is used. The metal content of petroleum derivatives revealed that the vacuum residuum contains iron, aluminium, vanadium and nickel mainly, while that the asphaltenes and maltenes maintain inside of their composition only preferably the vanadium and nickel as majority elements. (Author)

[en] In this work, a cost-benefit analysis concerning the use of fuel oil additives in heavy fuel oil fired water tube boilers is performed. The properties of various additives are discussed and their advantages and disadvantages outlined. Finally, the possible use of additives within a generation system and the cost implications are examined. Based on the market survey, it can be concluded that FO additives can prove beneficial, both technically and financially

[en] The overall goal of this project was to better understand factors and processes controlling microbially-mediated reduction and reoxidation of U and Tc in the unconsolidated residuum overlying the Nolichucky shale at the Field Research Center (FRC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Project activities were designed to test the following hypotheses: (1) The small rates of denitrification and U bio-reduction observed in laboratory incubations of sediments from FRC Area 1 at low pH (< 5) are due to the presence of high concentrations of toxic metals (especially Al and Ni). Rates of Tc reduction will also be small at low pH in the presence of high concentrations of toxic metals. (2) In situ rates of U and perhaps Tc bio-reduction can be increased by increasing system pH and thus precipitating toxic metals from solution. (3) In situ rates of U and Tc bio-reduction can be increased by the addition of humic substances, which complex toxic metals such as Al and Ni, buffer pH, and serve as electron shuttles to facilitate U and Tc reduction. (4) Microbially-reduced U and Tc are rapidly oxidized in the presence of high concentrations of NO3- and the denitrification intermediates NO2-, N2O, and NO. (5) An electron-donor-addition strategy (type and form of donor, with or without pH adjustment and with or without the co-addition of humic substances) can be devised to reduce U and Tc concentrations for an extended period of time in low pH groundwater in the presence of high concentrations of NO3-, Al, and Ni. This strategy operates by removing or complexing these components of FRC groundwater to allow the subsequent reduction of U(VI) and Tc(VII)

[en] Aqueous solutions of Beetroot Red fade fairly quickly, when kept in daylight, due to betanin hydrolysis. Aqueous solution produced out of Beta vulgaris chips is an unstable disperse solution. Protein coagulation results in turbidity and residuum in the solution under storage conditions. Proteins and the colorant form hydrogen bonds. Under coagulation of these bonds, the colorant is released and colorant hydrolysis is initiated. Hindered protein settling leads to the colorant precipitate together with the protein. In order to stabilize the colorant solution, we have used colloid protection that helped the solution retain the color continuously. Guar gum was used as a high-molecular compound to stabilize the color of the solution continuously. (paper)