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Project Overview
The Spill
SWA Selection
In response to the Deepwater Horizon crisis manufacturers around the country increased development and production of various cleanup chemicals, including surface washing agents (SWAs), which are designed to remove oil from solid surfaces and either disperse it or allow it to be collected. NCPTT is researching SWAs and alternative methods such as dry ice blasting for their use in cleaning historic masonry, as well as archaeological artifacts of stone, bone, and pottery.
The Oil
205,800,000 gallons
of crude oil spilled of oil collected by ships controlled burns
33,600,000 gallons 11,140,000 gallons of oil removed in 966 miles of coastline contaminated Impact:
Marine, coastal environment Health hazard to cleanup workers Fishing, tourism industries Coastal historic, archaeological sites
this spill is called Mississippi Canyon Block 252 (MS252), a South Louisiana sweet crude oil. (sweet = low in sulfur)
Weathering:
Evaporation of lighter components Mixture with water to form sticky, semisolid emulsion called mousse Mousse breaks apart and solidifies into tarballs, which remain in the environment
Product composition analysis (MSDS) pH compatibility (higher than 7) Varied mechanism of action Non-microbial Solubility tests Combined 2 g tarry oil, 10 mL deionized water, and 3 mL SWA in test tube Agitation/mixing Observations recorded up to two days after agitation Comparisons made between SWAs and their effectiveness and method
Sources: Deepwater Horizon Oil: Characteristics and Concerns. NOAA Office of Response and restoration, Emergency Response Division. May 15, 2010. Gulf oil spill, by the numbers. Los Angeles Times. Sept. 18, 2010. <http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/18/nation/la-na-oil-spill-numbers-20100919> Image: Adapted from Cultural Resources Potentially affected by Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. GeoCommons. <http://geocommons.com/maps/16705>
NCPTT researchers have made several trips to Grand Terre Island to test cleaning methods on the fort walls. A trip this summer produced test patches for comparison with the brick samples being evaluated in the lab.
On-site tests Used test patches On some, applied clay, clay and sand, or paper poultices with SWA overnight On others, used direct application and agitation of SWA Evaluated results
Cutting bricks into tiles for testing. Solubility test tubes, two days after agitation. Note variety in color and layers.
Atlanta, Texas, bricks were chosen because they were the available brick most similar to those used in the construction of Fort Livingston. porous but durable (modern bricks are often not porous) high amount of iron concretions similar appearance uses lime-based mortar made in the South
Left: removing dried clay & SWA poultices to reveal cleaner bricks. Upper right: cleaning with direct application of SWA and agitation. Lower right: wall with course of tested bricks (center).
*listed on the Environmental Protection Agencys National Contingency Plan Product Schedule Laboratory testing is ongoing; the final report will be published on the NCPTT website.