Spill Science & Technology Bulletin, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp.

191-192, 1996
© 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
Pergamon All rights reserved. Printed in Great Britain
PII: S1353-2561(97)00009-1 1353-2561/96 $15.00+0.00

The Evaporation of Oil Spills:

Prediction of Equations Using
Distillation Data
MERV FINGAS
Emergencies Science Division, Environmental Technology Centre, Environment Canada,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KIA OH3 (TEL" 613 998 9622; Fax: 613 991 9485;
e-maiL" Fingas.Merv@etc.ec.gc.ca)

This work follows on extensive empirical studies on the evaporation of oil and petroleum products. A study
of the evaporative characteristics of 19 different crude oils and petroleum products was conducted. Best-fit
equation parameters were determined for both percentage loss by time and absolute weight loss. All oils
except for three (diesel fuel, FCC Heavy Cycle and Bunker C light) were found to fit logarithmic curves.
The exceptions noted, fit square root curves with time for periods up to about 5 d. The equation constants
were correlated with oil distillation data. The equation constants correlated highly with the percentage
distilled at 180°C. Using this correlation, equations were developed by which the oil evaporation can be
predicted using the distillation data alone. O 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd

Keywords: Oil evaporation, evaporation, weathering.

Introduction was loaded with a measured amount of oil. The weight

Previous papers by the author presented results that
showed that the evaporation rates of oils and
petroleum products are largely governed by tempera-
ture and time (Fingas, 1995). Equations were derived
which correlated the temperature changes to the
equations both with the empirical findings themselves
and with distillation data (Fingas, 1996). This work
still left the basic parameter of the evaporation rate at
15°C to be determined empirically. The determination
of these empirical parameters involve experiments
lasting several days. Obviously, a means to predict
these equations would be convenient for users of the
data. Furthermore, it is necessary for the full under-
standing of the evaporation process to determine if
there are relationships between the evaporation
parameters and other properties of oil.
Experimental
Evaporation rate was measured by weight loss using
an electronic balance. A tared Petri dish of defined size
loss dishes were standard glass Petri dishes from
Coming. A standard 139 mm diameter (ID) dish was
most frequently used. Oil was placed directly on the
glass Petri dish unless otherwise noted. Weight loss
and time were recorded on a computer over a period
varying from 1 to 7 d, depending on the type of oil.
Nineteen oils were evaporated in this manner.
Distillation data were taken from standard refer-
ences and were directly correlated to the evaporation
rate. The evaporation rate was taken as the constant
coefficient from the best-fit equation of either a
logarithmic equation or the square root equation
(e.g. evaporation % or weight =aln(t) where t is the
time in seconds or evaporation % or weight= ax/t).
The 'a' constant is the constant derived from
regression and is taken as the rate.
The evaporation rates of the 19 crude oils or
petroleum products were correlated with the percent
distilled at temperatures ranging from 40 to 400°C in
steps of 10°C. The resulting regression coefficients (r 2
values) were then analyzed. The computer software

191

package, TableCurve, was use to develop peak
functions for the regression coefficients. It was found
that the best correlation was the distillation percen-
tages between 180 and 190°C. The regression
parameters were then used at 180°C to develop
equations for the evaporation. The linear regression
results between the evaporation rate and the distilla-
tion amount at 180°C formed the basis for these new
equations. The previously determined temperature
relationships (Fingas, 1996) were then employed to
create a new set of equations, which could predict oil
evaporation rates using only the distillation amount
alone.
Conclusions
The equation parameters found experimentally for
the evaporation of oils can be related to commonly
available distillation data for the oil. Specifically, it has
been found that the distillation percentage at 180°C
correlates well with the equation parameters. Regres-
sion coefficients (r 2) range from 0.74 to 0.98,
depending on the type of equation and the selection
of data. Relationships enabling calculation of evapora-
tion equations directly from distillation data have been
developed:For oils that follow a logarithmic equation:
Percentage evaporated= 0.165(%D)ln(t)
192
M. FINGAS
Weight evaporated = 0.0341 (%D)ln(t) (2)
For oils that follow a square root equation:
Percentage evaporated = 0.0254(%D)x/t (3)
Weight evaporated = 0.00514(%D)x/t (4)
where the weight evaporated is in grams/20 g of oil
exposed and %D is the percentage (by weight) distilled
at 180°C. These equations were combined with the
equations generated to account for the temperature
variations:For oils that follow a logarithmic equation:
Percentage evaporated =[0.165 (%D)
(5)
+ 0.045(T- 15)]In(t)
For oils that follow a square root equation:
Percentage evaporated =[0.0254(%D)
(6)
+ 0.01(T- 15)]x/t
References
Fingas, M. F. (1995) The evaporation of oil spills. In Proceedings of
the Eighteenth Arctic and Marine Oil Spill Program Technical
Seminar, pp. 43-60. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Fingas, M. F. (1996) The evaporation of oil spills: variation with
temperature and correlation with distillation data. In Proceedings
of the Nineteenth Arctic and Marine Oil Spill Program Technical
(1) Seminar, pp. 29-72. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Spill Science & Technology Bulletin 3(4)