Degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in seawater by ionizing radiation

A major concern with leaking petroleum is the environmental contamination by the toxic and water-soluble components such as benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX). These hydrocarbons have relatively high pollution potential because of their significant toxicity. All BTX compounds are depressants to the central nervous system. Consequently, BTX are priority pollutants and their occurrence has led to the development of several physical, chemical and biological methods for their removal. The use of nuclear technology for protection and conservation of the environment, by the destruction of toxic organic compounds present in the environmental, drinking water, soils and industrial sewage has been the object of study of several authors in Brazil and in the world. The objective of this paper is to present the preliminary results of the study of contamination of the seawater by the main pollutants of the output and transport of petroleum, such as benzene, toluene and xylene, and their removal by the exposure to the ionizing radiation.