• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2003

Understanding the penetration behavior of the spilled oil is very important to remove itself and to minimize its impact on intertidal biological communities by earlier treatment of the oil. The purpose of this study is to clarify the effects of wave and tidal actions on the penetration of spilled oil and to evaluate main factors of oil penetration using a sandy-beach model. Infiltration processes into the sediments showed significant difference between seawater and crude oil. Seawater was infiltrated by both wave action and tidal fluctuation into the sediments in sandy beach. However, spilled crude oil penetrated into the sediments only by falling tides and not by wave action, and the first tide is most important for the penetration of stranded oil. Over 70% of bulk fraction in penetrated crude oil was concentrated to the top 2 cm sediment-layer when spilled oil volume was 1 L/$\textrm{m}^2$. Moreover, the penetration of stranded oil into the sandy beach sediments was strongly correlated with the oil viscosity affected by temperature.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.295-303
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• 1991

Multi-spectral analyses of excitation and emission fluorescence was applied to spilled crude oils in characterization of their specific fluorescence patterns which is called oil fingerprints. In the present study, oil fingerprints of 33 crude, 4 fuel and 2 other oils were analyzed to establish data base library search system. Cluster analysis showed that crude oils could be classified into two large groups according to their fluorescence characteristics. In simulated experiments, all the spilled sources was identifiable by the present library search system. In the natural environment this system could identify the exact source of weathered crude oil slicks upton 10 days. The present study shows that the fluorescence fingerprinting method with the library search system is reliable and superior to toutine GC/HPLC analyses in identification of the source of weathered spilled oils in the marine environment.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.520-526
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• 1997

Bacterial strains which degrade Arabian Light crude oil were isolated by enrichment culture from oil-spilled soil. The strain A54 was finally selected after testing emulsifying activity and oil conversion rate. Strain A54 was identified as a Acinetobacter sp. based on the morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics. It appears to be highly specialized for growth on Arabian Light crude oil in minimal salts medium since it showed preference for oil or degradation products as substrates for growth. It was found that it could grow on at least fifteen different hydrocarbons. The optimum cultural and environmental conditions were as follows; 25$\circ$C for temperature, 7,5 for pH, 2.0% for NaCl concentration and 2.0% for crude oil concentration. Additionally, the optimal concentration of NH$_{4}$NO$_{3}$, and K$_{2}$HPO$_{4}$, were 12.5 mM and 0.057 mM, respectively. Cell growth and emulsifying activity as a function of time were also determined. Crude oil degradation and the reduction of product peaks were identified by the analysis of remnant oil by gas chromatography. Approximately 63% of crude oil were converted into a form no longer extractable by mixed organic solvents.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2003

Understanding the seawater infiltration into tidal flat sediments is very important, because it is significantly correlated with the supply of dissolved oxygen, nutrients and organic matter to benthic organisms for survival. However oil blocks interstitial spaces of sediments, reduces seawater infiltration and results in the decrease in oxygen, nutrients and other food supply to benthic communities. The penetration depth of the stranded oil into the sediments is one of the most significant information to know the effect of spilled oil on biological communities and to set up a cleaning method. So we initiated this study to quantify the penetration behavior of spilled oil and to evaluate the influence of the penetrated oil on seawater infiltration in tidal flat environment and its ecological implications. The penetration depth of the crude oil into the tidal flat sediments was two times deeper than that of the fuel oil C, and the depth was significantly affected by stranded oil volume. However, the penetration depth of stranded oil was abruptly dropped at first falling tide but not significantly fluctuated after that. Moreover, hydrocarbon concentration showed the highest within the upper 2 cm. Seawater infiltration was decreased in proportion to the stranded oil volume. The seawater infiltration was more affected by the penetrated fuel oil C about 1.7 times than the crude oil, because the interstitial spaces of the top of sediments were more cleared by the fuel oil C. Therefore, quick cleaning actions for penetrated oil will be necessary for recovery of seawater infiltration because the seawater contains oxygen and nutrients necessary for the survival of benthic organisms in tidal flat.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.134-139
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to quantify the penetration behavior of spilled weathered oil and dispersed oil and to evaluate the influence of the penetrated oils on seawater infiltration in tidal flat environment. The penetration depths of the spilled oils into the tidal flat sediments were gradually deeper according to increase the stranded oil volume. The penetration depth of stranded oil were abruptly dropped at first falling tide, but were not significantly fluctuated after that. Moreover, hydrocarbon concentration was most high within the upper 2 cm. Seawater infiltration was decreased in proportion to the stranded oil volume. Dispersed oil was easily permitted the seawater infiltration than weathered oil and crude oil. Therefore, quick cleaning actions fur penetrated oil will be required far recovery of seawater infiltration, because the seawater contains oxygen and nutrients required for the survival of benthic organisms in tidal flat.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.795-799
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• 2008

We have studied bioremediation of effective microorganisms on crude oil spill in Taean, west-coast of Korea. Oil contaminated soil samples were collected on December 14, 2007, seven days after the Hebei Spirit oil-spilled accident. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) was measured to evaluate the effectiveness of effective microorganisms (EM) which were composed with yeast, photosynthetic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria on oil degradation. TPH concentration before EM treatment was 323.8 mg/kg, whereas TPH concentrations on 2 days after EM treatment and that of control (without EM) was 102.1 mg/kg and 170.6 mg/kg, respectively. On six days after EM treatment TPH was 91.3 mg/kg and that of control was 127.7 mg/kg. Percentages of degraded crude oil were 47.3% without EM and 68.5% with EM, 60.6% without EM and 71.8% with EM on 2 and 6 days after EM treatment, respectively. These results clearly showed that the application of effective microorganisms toward oil-contaminated soil was quite useful to degrade crude oil spill. These results were derived from the effects of biostimulation of microbial media nutrients and bioaugmentation of effective microorganisms. If we carefully apply these effective microorganisms, it can be a useful bioremediation method to recover oil-contaminated marine ecosystems.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2010

Objectives: On December 7, 2007, the Hebei Spirit oil tanker spilled out 12,547 kl of crude oil on the Yellow Sea 10 km away from the cost of Taean Province, Korea. As the coastline has been contaminated, local residents have been exposed to crude oil. Because the residents were showing many symptoms, we investigated the acute health effects of this oil spill on them. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study consisting of the heavy and moderately oil soaked area in Taean and the lightly oil soaked area in Seocheon. Ten seashore villages were selected from each area, and 10 male and female adults were selected from each village. We interviewed the subjects using a structured questionnaire on the characteristics of residents, the cleanup activities, the perception of oil hazard, depression and anxiety, and the physical symptoms. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The logistic regression model was adjusted for age, gender, education, smoking, the perception of oil hazard and anxiousness. Results: The more highly contaminated the area, the more likely it was for residents to be engaged in cleanup activities and have a greater chance of exposure to oil. The indexes of anxiety and depression were higher in the heavy and moderately oil soaked areas. The increased risks of headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, tingling of limb, hot flushing, sore throat, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, itchy skin, rash, and sore eyes were significant. Conclusions: The results suggest that exposure to crude oil is associated with various acute physical symptoms. Long-term investigation is required to monitor the residents' health.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.654-662
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• 1996

Bacterial strains which degrade crude oil were isolated by liquid culture from oil-spilled soil, and four isolates were selected among them. The strain Hl7-1 was finally selected after testing emulsifying activity and oil conversion rate. The strain Hl7-1 was identified as a Nocardia sp. based on the test for morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics. It appears to be highly specialized for growth on crude oil in minimal salts medium since it showed preference for oil or degradation products as substrates for growth. It was found that it could grow on at least fifteen different hydrocarbons. The optimum cultural and environmental conditions were seeked. Cell growth and emulsification activity as a function of time were also determined. Crude oil degradation and the reduction of product peak was identified by the analysis of remnant oil by gas chromatography after 3 days of cultivation. Approximately 83% of oil were converted into a form no longer extractable by organic solvents.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2011

The principal objective of this study was to determine the optimal conditions for the production of biosurfactant by the indigenous bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. HK-3, originating from oil-spilled areas. The relationship between total biosurfactant production and the factors affecting biosurfactant production were evaluated by statistical analysis using SPSS software. The effects of various supplemental carbon sources (e.g., glucose, dextrose, mannitol, citrate, acetate) on the maximal production of biosurfactant by the test culture of Pseudoalteromonas sp. HK-3 was then evaluated. As a result, mannitol was found in this study to be the best supplemental carbon source for the production of biosurfactant. A spot inoculation of crude cultural liquid containing the HK-3 cells generated the largest clear zone, whereas only small clear zones appeared around the spots inoculated with either supernatant only or cell pellets following centrifugation. Our results demonstrated that the HK-3 test culture supplemented with 2% mannitol at an initial pH of 6 generated the maximal amount of biosurfactant within 72 h of incubation.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.118-123
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• 1986

A gas chromatographic oil fingerprinting method is a technique used for comparative source identification of spilled oil. The hydrocarbon and sulfur compound analysis by gas chromatography are generally used for analyzing oils. However, due to the complexity of oils, another technique is also needed for comparative identification. In this study, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contained in crude oil and heavy fuel oil are analyzed by gas chromatography. They are relatively unaffected by weathering condition because they are stable. The oil fingerprinting of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by GC seems to be a reliable technique for analyzing oils in identification of sources and kinds of oils.