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Photometry Detection (FPD) as well. This is caused by the presence of
a light cut (gasoline, fuel oil, etc..) deposited on top of the Amoco
Cadiz pollution (Fig. 16) .
Here again the infra-red resin spectrum shows an increase in
absorption of hydroxyls and the transformation of esters to acids
(Fig. 18). The oxygen content of these polar compounds (7.4-7.5 %)
confirms the degradation by oxidation.
Station 8
3400 3000 1700 1100 ;oo cm
1600
31 03 78
FIGURE 18. Infra-red spectrometry of the resins.
Stable Hydrocarbon/Water Emulsions or "Chocolate Mousse"
When petroleum spreads over a marine environment, the movement
of the waves, the wind, and the currents causes a very rapid emulsion
with the sea water which is called "chocolate mousse". These stable
emulsions are constituted by dispersing sea water in the hydrocarbons
(inverse emulsions) . This type of emulsion was sampled during the
first month after the accident (Fig. 19, Table 3).
A program of analysis which is different from that used for the
sediments and sands was employed (Fig. 20) . After purifying the emulsions
(of sand, algae, etc...), they were distilled to measure the
water contents of those emulsions with boiling points below and those
above 340°C. This method is described by Pelet and Castex. The results
are assembled in Table 4.
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