Comparison of Key West and Persian Gulf Seawaters
Abstract
The experiments described in this paper demonstrate changes in the chemistries and microflora of two natural coastal seawaters collected from Key West, Florida, and the Persian Gulf as a result of storage and environmental conditions. Exposure to an anaerobic atmosphere containing a mixed gas of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen generated the highest microflora concentration, especially sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Biotic dissolved sulfide levels were also highest in the mixed gas atmosphere. In contrast, sulfides were not detected in seawater maintained anaerobic with bubbled nitrogen. Separate introductions of carbon steel and agitation also affected chemistries and microflora. Key West seawater consistently had equal or greater bacterial numbers in all conditions when compared with Persian Gulf seawater. Bubbling nitrogen into natural seawater to achieve an anaerobic condition is not conducive to the growth of SRB and the resulting biotic sulfide. Laboratory experiments that mimic anaerobic conditions by bubbling nitrogen may not produce conditions found in the field due to pH changes. Therefore, removal of oxygen is not the only consideration when attempting to reproduce anaerobic conditions. A followup paper is planned to address the influences of chemistry and microflora on corrosivity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 18, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA470732
Entities
People
- Brenda J. Little
- Jason S. Lee
- Richard I. Ray
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory