Abstract:

Sand patties were collected from beaches between Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores, AL in January and March of 2014. Aqueous extracts of sand patties were studied in a laboratory setting to determine aerobic microbial bioavailability as assessed by oxygen uptake for dark and solar exposed sand patties. In addition, high resolution mass spectrometry was utilized to determine the molecular formulas of water soluble species released by the sand patties in the dark and under solar irradiation. Changes in molecular composition were also assessed as a function of microbial utilization of the water soluble species for dark and solar exposed sand patties.

Suggested Citation:

Matthew Tarr. 2017. Microbial utilization of sand patty oil residue with and without solar exposure. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N75Q4T6B

Publications:

Harriman, B., Zito, P., Podgorski, D. C., Tarr, M. A., & Suflita, J. M. (2017). Impact of Photooxidation and Biodegradation on the Fate of Oil Spilled During the Deepwater Horizon Incident: Advanced Stages of Weathering. Environmental Science & Technology. doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b01278

Purpose:

The purpose was to determine the effects of sunlight on microbial utilization of heavily weathered oil (sand patties).

Data Parameters and Units:

Aerobic and Anaerobic Toxicity: Sand patty amendment (g); Sulfide production (nM S/day-1/g-1); Oxygen consumption (uM O2/day-1/g-1); Positive control (20 mM Lactate); Negative control (autoclaved without sand patty amendment) Respirometry: Time (hours); Oxygen utilization (uM); Average; Standard deviation; Endogenous (only endogenous substrates) Absorbance data: Time (hours); Absorbance Treatments: Endogenous: 10 g sediment plus 10 mL filter-sterilized seawater Dark: 10 g sediment plus 10 mL dissolved organic matter from non-irradiated control material leached from sand patties Sand Patty: 10 g sediment plus 10 mL sterile seawater plus 1 g crumbled sand patty Irradiated: 10 g sediment plus 10 mL dissolved organic matter from irradiated sand patties Sterile: 10 g sediment plus 10 mL sterile seawater, autoclaved for 20 minutes before the experiment

Methods:

Sediments collected from 5-10 cm depth). Irradiated samples were irradiated for 3 or 12 hours in borosilicate glass beakers, dissolved organic matter was removed after time period and new sterile seawater was added. For dark samples, sterile seawater was added and samples were stored in the dark.

Instruments:

10-channel Micro-Oxymax respirometer with an electrochemical O2 sensor

Individual Files: