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. 



31 03 78 



3400 3000 



1700 



1100 



;oo 



cm 



1600 



Station 8 



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 emul- 

 sions (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. 



130 



