Faculty and Student Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2021
Abstract
Crude oils and motor oils are commonly identified in oil spills on land. Controlling and understanding their flow both across and into land is of paramount importance to minimize spread and subsequent damage to the ecosystem. Spreading kinetics and surface energy studies were conducted with these oils over several realistic soil-based matrixes, consisting of topsoil (silt-dominant), sand, clay, and moisture. Spreading area through a 1.3 cm deep matrix was reduced with increased moisture content, densely packed matrixes, and higher viscosity oils. Initial contact angle (CA) measurements for all oils was typically lower on clay matrixes due to its sheet-like structure and high absorption capabilities. Individual droplet penetration took longer at lower MC in direct contradiction to bulk kinetics studies, suggesting different spreading behavior across the surface border. Low viscosity oils recorded the highest lateral spreads, and incomplete wetting profiles were identified for most conditions tested. Importantly, dimensionless profiles of droplet diameter and CA with time did not conform to universal behavior, with statistically significant influences of matrix heterogeneity, oil viscosity, and ill-controlled surface roughness identified. Flow regimes of oil droplets instead conformed to vertical spreading through thick matrixes, and a delayed lateral spreading that occurred quite late into the total penetration time of the droplet. These findings, obtained from studying realistic soil-based matrixes, draws new conclusions regarding the important influences of matrix thickness, variable porosity, and chemical heterogeneity on fluid flow behavior. This new knowledge will assist in the development of future containment efforts surrounding oil spills.
Relational Format
journal article
Recommended Citation
Ahmed, F., & Hutton-Prager, B. (2021). Influence of bulk and surface interactions from thick, porous, soil-based substrates on the spreading behavior of different viscosity oils. Environmental Challenges, 3, 100045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2021.100045
DOI
10.1016/j.envc.2021.100045
Accessibility Status
Searchable text