BioremediationBioremediationofofOil SpillsOil SpillsAlison HawkinsAlison HawkinsOutlineOutlineIntroductionIntroductionRegulationsRegulationsInland vs. OceanInland vs. OceanMethodsMethodsBioaugmentationBioaugmentationBiostimulationBiostimulationCase StudiesCase StudiesAdvancementsAdvancementsAccording to the EPA, According to the EPA, ““oil releases oil releases threaten public health and safety by threaten public health and safety by contaminating drinking water, causing fire contaminating drinking water, causing fire and explosion hazards, diminishing air and and explosion hazards, diminishing air and water quality, compromising agriculture, water quality, compromising agriculture, destroying recreational areas, wasting destroying recreational areas, wasting nonrenewable resources, and costing the nonrenewable resources, and costing the economy millions of dollars.economy millions of dollars.””IntroductionIntroduction••Occur frequently throughout the worldOccur frequently throughout the world••Require quick actionRequire quick actionRegulationsRegulations••EPAEPA••Coast GuardCoast GuardInland vs. Ocean SpillsInland vs. Ocean SpillsDifferences:Differences:Who is in charge of cleaning it upWho is in charge of cleaning it upWho causes the spillsWho causes the spillsAttentionAttentionSize of spillSize of spillSimilarities:Similarities:Threat to populationsThreat to populationsRequire quick actionRequire quick actionMethodsMethodsPhysicalPhysicalChemicalChemicalBiologicalBiologicalBioremediationBioremediationBioremediation: the use of microorganisms Bioremediation: the use of microorganisms to decompose pollutants into simpler to decompose pollutants into simpler compoundscompoundsDegradation: the process of microbes Degradation: the process of microbes breaking substances down into water, breaking substances down into water, COCO22, and other compounds, and other compoundsPrime goalPrime goalTwo typesTwo typesSecondary treatment toolSecondary treatment toolBioaugmentationBioaugmentationBioaugmentation: Bioaugmentation: addition of addition of microbes to microbes to supplement the supplement the current population current population to degrade oil and to degrade oil and other hydrocarbonsother hydrocarbonsTable from GordonTable from GordonTrichosporonTrichosporonTrichodermaTrichodermaTorulopsisTorulopsisXanthomycesXanthomycesSporobolomycesSporobolomycesVibrioVibrioScopulariopsisScopulariopsisStreptomycesStreptomycesSaccharomycopisisSaccharomycopisisSpirillumSpirillumSaccharomycesSaccharomycesSpherotilusSpherotilusRhodotorulaRhodotorulaSarcinaSarcinaRhodosporidiumRhodosporidiumPsedomonasPsedomonasPenicilliumPenicilliumPeptococcusPeptococcusPhialophoraPhialophoraNocardiaNocardiaPaecylomycesPaecylomycesMoraxellaMoraxellaOidiodendrumOidiodendrumLeucothrixLeucothrixMucorMucorLactobacillusLactobacillusHelminthosporiumHelminthosporiumKlebsiellaKlebsiellaHansenulaHansenulaFlavobacteriumFlavobacteriumGonytrichumGonytrichumErwiniaErwiniaFusariumFusariumCoryneformsCoryneformsDebaromycesDebaromycesBrevebacteriumBrevebacteriumCunninghamellaCunninghamellaBeneckeaBeneckeaCladosporiumCladosporiumBacillusBacillusCephaiosporiumCephaiosporiumArthrobacterArthrobacterCandidaCandidaAlcaligenesAlcaligenesBotrytisBotrytisAeromonasAeromonasAureobasidiumAureobasidiumActinomycesActinomycesAspergillusAspergillusAcinetobacterAcinetobacterAllesheriaAllesheriaAchromobbacterAchromobbacterFungiFungiBacteriaBacteriaBioaugmentationBioaugmentationUnable to degrade certain contaminantsUnable to degrade certain contaminantsPolluted environments, 10% of resident Polluted environments, 10% of resident microbe population are degradersmicrobe population are degradersOther requirements must be metOther requirements must be metMicrobes have a peak concentrationMicrobes have a peak concentrationMicrobes must compete to surviveMicrobes must compete to surviveGenetically altered microbesGenetically altered microbesBiostimulationBiostimulationBiostimulation: addition of nutrients to aid in Biostimulation: addition of nutrients to aid in the growth of the indigenous microbe the growth of the indigenous microbe populationpopulationMajor nutrients: carbon, nitrogen, Major nutrients: carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, oxygen, and waterphosphorous, oxygen, and waterMain concerns are oxygen supply and Main concerns are oxygen supply and temperaturetemperatureNutrients must be available and in contact Nutrients must be available and in contact with microbeswith microbesBiostimulationBiostimulation1 g hydrocarbon requires 150mg N and 1 g hydrocarbon requires 150mg N and 30mg P30mg PC:N:P = 100:5:1C:N:P = 100:5:1FertilizerFertilizerRate of releaseRate of releaseWashout effectWashout effectType of nutrientsType of nutrientsTable from Zhu et alTable from Zhu et alAdvantagesAdvantages••Less expensiveLess expensive••Natural processNatural process••Not disruptive to surrounding ecosystemsNot disruptive to surrounding ecosystems••Does not require moving oil to another Does not require moving oil to another locationlocation••Continues to improve conditionsContinues to improve conditionsDisadvantagesDisadvantages••Bioaugmentation not very effectiveBioaugmentation not very effective••Success depends on proper nutrients and Success depends on proper nutrients and environmental conditionsenvironmental conditions••Takes time to evaluate siteTakes time to evaluate site••Takes time to see resultsTakes time to see resultsExxon ValdezExxon Valdez••Oil tanker received 1.26 million barrels of Oil tanker received 1.26 million barrels of oil (54 million gallons) in Alaskaoil (54 million gallons) in Alaska••Bottomed out on rocks of the Bligh Reef in Bottomed out on rocks of the Bligh Reef in Prince William SoundPrince William Sound••8 of the 11 cargo holds on the ship broke 8 of the 11 cargo holds on the ship broke and within 5 hours, 11 million gallons of and within 5 hours, 11 million gallons of oil had spilledoil had spilled••80% of oil remained on the ship80% of oil remained on the shipFigure from GordonFigure from GordonExxon ValdezExxon Valdez••Needed to remove remaining oil and Needed to remove remaining oil and cleanup the spilled oilcleanup the spilled oil••Had to consider surrounding ecosystemsHad to consider surrounding ecosystems••Many methods triedMany methods tried••3 years later, the Coast Guard 3 years later, the Coast Guard discontinued the