This research evaluates the analytical capabilities of a field portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (pXRF) for the measurement of contaminated soil samples using a matrix-matched calibration. The calibrated pXRF generated exceptional data quality from the measurement of ten soil reference materials. Elemental recoveries improved for all 11 elements post-calibration with reduced measurement variation and detection limits in most cases. Measurement repeatability of reference values ranged between 0.2 and 10% relative standard deviation, while the majority (82%) of reference recoveries were between 90 and 110%. Definitive data quality, the highest of the US EPA's three level quality ranking, was achieved for 15 of 19 elemental datasets. Measurement comparability against inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) values was excellent for most elements (e.g, r2 0.999 for Mn and Pb, r2 > 0.995 for Cu, Zn and Cd). Parallel measurement of reference materials revealed ICP-AES and ICP-MS measured Ti and Cr poorly when compared to pXRF. Individual recoveries of soil reference materials by both ICP-AES and pXRF showed that pXRF was equivalent to or better than ICP-AES values for all but two elements (Ni, As). This study demonstrates pXRF as a suitable alternative to ICP-AES analysis in the measurement of Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, and Pb in metal-contaminated soils. Where funds are limited, pXRF provides a low-cost, high quality solution to increasing sample density for a more complete geochemical investigation.

Owing to the semi-enclosed environment of the Bohai Sea, the ecological effects caused by an oil spill would be significant. A typical in- situ bioremediation engineering project for of oil-spilled marine sediments was performed in the Bohai Sea and a quantitative assessment of the ecological restoration was performed. The bioremediation efficiencies of n-alkane and PAHs in the sediment are 32.84 ± 21.66% and 50.42 ± 17.49% after 70 days of bioremediation, and 60.99 ± 10.14% and 68.01 ± 18.60% after 210 days, respectively. After 210 days of bioremediation, the degradation rates of two- to three ring PAHs and four-ring PAHs are 84.44 ± 23.03% and 26.62 ± 43.76%, respectively. In addition, the concentrations of the heavy metals first increased by 6.00% due to oil spill degradation and release, and then decreased by 72.60% with the degradation of oil caused by bioremediation or vertical migration. According to the continuous tracking monitoring, the composition of the microbial community in the restored area was similar to that in the control area and the clean area in Bohai Sea after 210 days of bioremediation. These results may provide some theoretical and scientific data to understand the degradation mechanism and assessing the ecological remediation efficiency for oil spills in open sea areas.

In ocean conditions of low temperature and high pressure, gas can be converted into hydrates, impacting the behavior of plumes from oil and gas blowouts. This study presented and evaluated formulations to parameterize the processes of formation, dissolution, and decomposition of hydrates implemented in a numerical model that simulates the fate of oil and gas releases in deepwater. Comparisons between the model results and available observations showed a good agreement. Numerical experiments were performed to understand the plume behavior with the presence of hydrates from blowouts at different depths. The analysis of the dynamics of the plume composed of water and gas showed that the hydrate formation increases the plume density and reduces its acceleration due to the buoyancy. As expected, the deeper the blowout, the greater the mass of hydrate in the plume and slower its displacement, spending more time to complete the disappearance of the hydrate.