Electron microscopy studies of petroleum contaminated marine clay

Abstract

The effects of crude oil on physico-chemical and microstructure properties of laboratory prepared marine clays were studied. Crude oil significantly influenced clay microstructure and physico-chemical properties such as specific surface area and cation exchange capacity. Experiments were conducted on artificially prepared marine sediments to investigate this phenomenon Studying the micrographs of oil contaminated marine clay, two types of adsorption mechanisms were observed. One was the adsorption of clay particles by the oil and the other one was the adsorption of oil by the day particles. As a result of these mechanisms three different interactions were observed between oil and clay particles. These were the spherical agglomeration of clay particles, clay coating of the oil drops and adhesion of oil layers or sheet structures to clay surfaces.