Green Chemistry      Jemma Vickery    jv2237@bris.ac.uk

  Introduction

    Biodiesel

    Green Solvents

    Ionic Liquids

    Degradable Plastics

    Famous Environmental Disasters

    Glossary

    References

The Exxon Valdez oil spill is one of the most famous environmental disasters.  Other famous environmental disasters include The Amoco Cadiz, The Argo Merchant, The Bouchard B155, The Burmah Agate, The Cibro Savannah,, Ixtoc I, The Jupiter and The Mega Borg.

This page provides the key facts associated with the Exxon Valdez oil spill and hi-lights the need for 'greener' chemical processes and products which has fewer implications on the environment. 

The Facts:

When did it happen?   24th March 1989 at 4 minutes past midnight.

What actually happened?  The Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck a reef in Alaska's spectacular Prince William Sound.

How much oil leaked into the oceans?  A total of 11,000,000 gallons of oil.

Short term implications:  Within two months the oil had been swept along a 470 mile pathway to the southwest.

Long term implications:  Initial clean-up of the spill took three years at a cost amounting to more than 1.2 billion pounds.  The effect on wildlife was horrendous with the death toll of wildlife amounting to millions.

See references (11, 12, 13)