Microcosm study: Photochemical oxidation of crude oil

Macondo surrogate, source oil purchased from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and heavy crude oil (bitumen) underwent photo-oxidation in a solar simulator for 0-10 days. Both were fractionated to yield structurally defined fractions: saturates, 1-ring, 2-ring, 3-ring, 4-ring, and 5+ring aromatics. Those fractions with acceptable yields underwent photo-oxidation as well, to determine each structural class's contribution to the transformation products.