Rheological aspects of the fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait.
| Title: | Rheological aspects of the fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Arinina MP; A.V. Topchiev Institute of petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, Leninsky prospect, 119991, Moscow, Russia.; Gumennyi IV; A.V. Topchiev Institute of petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, Leninsky prospect, 119991, Moscow, Russia.; Kuzin MS; A.V. Topchiev Institute of petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, Leninsky prospect, 119991, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: gevahka60@mail.ru.; Mityukov AV; A.V. Topchiev Institute of petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, Leninsky prospect, 119991, Moscow, Russia.; Polyakova MY; A.V. Topchiev Institute of petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, Leninsky prospect, 119991, Moscow, Russia.; Skvortsov IY; A.V. Topchiev Institute of petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, Leninsky prospect, 119991, Moscow, Russia.; Varfolomeeva LA; A.V. Topchiev Institute of petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, Leninsky prospect, 119991, Moscow, Russia.; Zuev KV; A.V. Topchiev Institute of petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, Leninsky prospect, 119991, Moscow, Russia.; Malkin AY; A.V. Topchiev Institute of petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, Leninsky prospect, 119991, Moscow, Russia. |
| Source: | Marine pollution bulletin [Mar Pollut Bull] 2026 Jan; Vol. 222 (Pt 3), pp. 118846. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Oct 29. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0260231 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-3363 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0025326X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Mar Pollut Bull Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2003- : Oxford : Elsevier; Original Publication: London, Macmillan. |
| MeSH Terms: | Rheology* ; Petroleum Pollution* ; Fuel Oils* ; Water Pollutants*; Tensile Strength ; Sand |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the physicochemical and rheological properties of fuel oil released during the December 2024 spill in the Kerch Strait, aiming to elucidate its behavior under varying environmental conditions and the mechanisms of its transformation in marine sediments. Comprehensive rheological measurements were performed on samples collected from the damaged tanker and from the seafloor, within a temperature range of 0-50 °C. All tested oils exhibited a pronounced transition from Newtonian to yield-stress flow behavior as the temperature dropped below 20 °C, indicating the formation of a structured dispersion phase. The rheological response of coastal sediments contaminated with fuel oil was also examined; these systems behaved as viscoplastic media capable of sustaining significant irreversible deformation under low shear stress. Furthermore, the addition of the nonionic surfactant Tween 80 was found to induce the formation of a time-dependent oil-in-water emulsion with a viscosity reduced by more than an order of magnitude compared to the original fuel oil, thereby enhancing its potential for dispersal and biodegradation. The mechanical strength and cohesion of the surface fuel layer were quantified, revealing temperature-dependent consolidation processes. Overall, the results provide a quantitative framework for understanding the temperature- and composition-controlled rheology of marine fuel oil residues, offering insights for the optimization of remediation strategies in cold marine environments.; (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Mikhail Sergeevich Kuzin reports was provided by A V Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis Russian Academy of Sciences. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Emulsification; Fuel oil spill; Plasticity; Rheology; Strength of oil layer; Tanker accident |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Fuel Oils); 0 (Water Pollutants); 0 (Sand) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20251030 Date Completed: 20260327 Latest Revision: 20260327 |
| Update Code: | 20260328 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118846 |
| PMID: | 41166775 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article