Project Page

Determining the Degradation Rate Constants of the Hydrocarbons from the Macondo Well and Weathered Oil in Alabama Beaches and Marshes

Implementing Organization

University of Alabama

Overview

DWH Project Funding

$74,750

Known Leveraged Funding

$0

Funding Organization

Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI)

Funding Program

Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative GoMRI Grant Program

Details

Project Category

Science

Project Actions

Chemical Aspects Research

Targeted Resources

Human and/or Institutional Capacity

Project Description

We hypothesized that hydrocarbon degradation rates in sandy sediments will be enhanced by increases in organic matter input. To investigate this hypothesis we took a three-prong approach: Determining the seasonal distribution of hydrocarbon degrading bacterial in Alabama coastal waters. The impact of inorganic nutrient additions on hydrocarbon degradation rates in sandy sediments. To do so we assessed the degradation of hydrocarbons in mesocosm experiments with differing fuel amounts (2,000 and 4,000 mg/kg) and with or without inorganic nutrient amendment.

Contact

Behzad Mortazavi
251-861-2141 X 2189
bmortazavi@ua.edu
Project Website
Project Partners

None

Affiliated Institutions

None

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