Thesis jointly supervised by the University of Paris 6. PhD jointly supervised by: Alain SALIOT
Committee: Jean OUDOT, Daniel PICART, Marcel CHAUSSEPIED, Michel GIRIN, Michel MARCHAND, Roger PICHON
Abstract: The effects of sea pollution by vegetable oils have coating properties with affect marine life, tourism and yachting. Beside, laboratory experiments, as well as flume test and sea trials carried out for this study have shown that vegetable oils are able to disperse in the water column, to form emulsions, that remain in the environment and to polymerise. Those phenomena can cause less visible damage, on the benthos for instance. In the same way, floating chemical pollutants can kill marine life when dispersing in the water column because of their toxic properties. Therefore, it seems necessary that both types of pollutants be removed quickly from the water after a spill. Recovery operations will neither be influenced by the salinity nor by the temperature of the damaged zone, because those parameters do not affect emulsification and dispersion processes. Moreover, clay particles may help bioremediation of vegetable oils. On the contrary, U.V. rays cause the polymerisation of the oils and, as a result, increase their residence time. However, since those types of pollutants float on the sea surface, common recovery devices designed for crude oils may be used.
Bibliographical reference: http://doc.cedre.fr/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=7256
