Diluted Bitumen: Physicochemical Properties, Weathering Processes, Emergency Response, and Recovery
Bitumen, an unconventional crude oil, has received much attention with the increasing consumption and the shrinking storage of conventional crude oils. Bitumen is highly viscous and, thus, is commonly diluted for transportation purposes. Spills of diluted bitumen could occur during the transportatio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.910365/full |
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| author | Xiaomei Zhong Xiaomei Zhong Pu Li Pu Li Xiaoyu Lin Zeyuan Zhao Quan (Sophia) He Haibo Niu Jie Yang |
| author_facet | Xiaomei Zhong Xiaomei Zhong Pu Li Pu Li Xiaoyu Lin Zeyuan Zhao Quan (Sophia) He Haibo Niu Jie Yang |
| author_sort | Xiaomei Zhong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bitumen, an unconventional crude oil, has received much attention with the increasing consumption and the shrinking storage of conventional crude oils. Bitumen is highly viscous and, thus, is commonly diluted for transportation purposes. Spills of diluted bitumen could occur during the transportation from reservoirs to refineries via pipeline, rail, and marine vessels. Although some laboratory and numerical modeling studies have been contributed to study the spill of diluted bitumen from different aspects, there is no systematic review in the field yet. Therefore, this study first conducted a review on different types of diluted bitumen based on their physicochemical properties, followed by their weathering processes including spreading, evaporation, emulsification, photooxidation, biodegradation, and sinking. Second, the numerical modeling on the fate and behavior of spilled diluted bitumen was summarized and analyzed. Finally, the techniques for spilled oil recovery were discussed, as well as the disposal/treatment of oily waste. Currently, a rare attempt has been made to turn the recovered oily waste into wealth (reutilization/valorization of oily waste). Using the recovered oily waste as the feedstock/processing medium for an emerging thermochemical conversion technique (hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass for crude bio-oil production) is highly recommended. Overall, this article summarized the state-of-the-art knowledge of the spill of diluted bitumen, with the hope to create a deep and systematic understanding on the spill of diluted bitumen for researchers, relevant companies, and decision makers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:04:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-17fca51772bd4897bb366c5de517378b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:04:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-17fca51772bd4897bb366c5de517378b2022-12-22T02:38:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2022-06-011010.3389/fenvs.2022.910365910365Diluted Bitumen: Physicochemical Properties, Weathering Processes, Emergency Response, and RecoveryXiaomei Zhong0Xiaomei Zhong1Pu Li2Pu Li3Xiaoyu Lin4Zeyuan Zhao5Quan (Sophia) He6Haibo Niu7Jie Yang8Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Civil and Resource Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, CanadaSchool of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai, ChinaPearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai, ChinaInstitute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, ChinaInstitute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, CanadaDepartment of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, CanadaInstitute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, ChinaBitumen, an unconventional crude oil, has received much attention with the increasing consumption and the shrinking storage of conventional crude oils. Bitumen is highly viscous and, thus, is commonly diluted for transportation purposes. Spills of diluted bitumen could occur during the transportation from reservoirs to refineries via pipeline, rail, and marine vessels. Although some laboratory and numerical modeling studies have been contributed to study the spill of diluted bitumen from different aspects, there is no systematic review in the field yet. Therefore, this study first conducted a review on different types of diluted bitumen based on their physicochemical properties, followed by their weathering processes including spreading, evaporation, emulsification, photooxidation, biodegradation, and sinking. Second, the numerical modeling on the fate and behavior of spilled diluted bitumen was summarized and analyzed. Finally, the techniques for spilled oil recovery were discussed, as well as the disposal/treatment of oily waste. Currently, a rare attempt has been made to turn the recovered oily waste into wealth (reutilization/valorization of oily waste). Using the recovered oily waste as the feedstock/processing medium for an emerging thermochemical conversion technique (hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass for crude bio-oil production) is highly recommended. Overall, this article summarized the state-of-the-art knowledge of the spill of diluted bitumen, with the hope to create a deep and systematic understanding on the spill of diluted bitumen for researchers, relevant companies, and decision makers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.910365/fulldiluted bitumenphysicochemical propertiesweathering processesoil spill responseoil spill recovery |
| spellingShingle | Xiaomei Zhong Xiaomei Zhong Pu Li Pu Li Xiaoyu Lin Zeyuan Zhao Quan (Sophia) He Haibo Niu Jie Yang Diluted Bitumen: Physicochemical Properties, Weathering Processes, Emergency Response, and Recovery Frontiers in Environmental Science diluted bitumen physicochemical properties weathering processes oil spill response oil spill recovery |
| title | Diluted Bitumen: Physicochemical Properties, Weathering Processes, Emergency Response, and Recovery |
| title_full | Diluted Bitumen: Physicochemical Properties, Weathering Processes, Emergency Response, and Recovery |
| title_fullStr | Diluted Bitumen: Physicochemical Properties, Weathering Processes, Emergency Response, and Recovery |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diluted Bitumen: Physicochemical Properties, Weathering Processes, Emergency Response, and Recovery |
| title_short | Diluted Bitumen: Physicochemical Properties, Weathering Processes, Emergency Response, and Recovery |
| title_sort | diluted bitumen physicochemical properties weathering processes emergency response and recovery |
| topic | diluted bitumen physicochemical properties weathering processes oil spill response oil spill recovery |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.910365/full |
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