...Bioremediation Contents I. Introduction II. History of Bioremediation 1. ‘Courtship’ Period (Pre-1989) 2. ‘Honeymoon’ Period (1989-1991) 3. ‘Establishment’ Period (since 1992) III. The Biological and Chemical Processes of Bioremediation 1. Biodegradation a. Biological Process b. Degrading Species c. Chemical Process d. Need for Bioremediation 2. Bioremediation a. Seeding with Microbial Cultures b. Environmental Modification IV. Recent Applications of Bioremediation Techniques and their Effectiveness 1. Amoco Cadiz 2. Exxon Valdez 3. Mega Borg 4. Apex Barges 5. Arabian Gulf War V. Conclusion Bibliography Bioremediation Methods for Oil Spills Abstract. The increasing number of marine oil spills asks for effective solutions for the environment. Bioremediation techniques have become a major mechanism for removing oil residues on the affected shorelines. Among the different techniques to enhance natural biodegradation by indigenous microorganisms, seeding of new bacteria and fertilizing the indigenous populations have attracted the most interest. The application of nutrients as nitrogen and phosphorus in the form of fertilizers have shown to be most effective in accelerating the biodegradation process and at the same time to be environmentally safe. I. Introduction Since the freighter Pallas caused the worst oil pollution of the tidel shallows in the North Sea last November, thousands of sea birds and probably...
Words: 4753 - Pages: 20
...Environmental Implications: When oil is leaked, it adversely alters aquatic environments by physically harming mammals and damaging their habitat. Oil is a compound derived from hydrogen and carbon, however, the process in which the compound is formed, enables it to be toxic to plants and wildlife (Cartage, 2012). The accidental spillage of oil is damaging to subsurface and surface organisms through the physical damage that is done to their habitat. The severity of an oil spill is contingent on two factors; whether it is petroleum or non-petroleum based and the general magnitude of the spillage which is typically measured in barrels or U.S. gallons. Oil is destructive to aquatic ecosystems since it interferes with animal membranes, disrupts the regulation of water controlled by fishes and inhibits metabolic activity (Environment Canada, 2011). Typically, wildlife is affected by oil since it gets sticky over time through weathering. This sticky oil induces hypothermia as oil destroys the waterproofing and insulation of their feathers (Australian Maritime Safety Authority, 2012). The ways in which oil spills damage mammals and birds is threefold; through contamination and destruction of food resources. Animals can be affected by oil through inhalation and ingestion. Vapors inherent in oil will denigrate a mammal’s central nervous system, liver, lungs. Additionally, when the oil is ingested, it may unable birds and mammals to properly digest their food as intestinal tracts become...
Words: 1633 - Pages: 7
...major oil spills in last few decades, and resulting loss to biodiversity has brought public attention to this problem. Bioremediation is a promising approach for recovery of environmental sites contaminated with crude oil and other hydrocarbons. Many microorganisms have been identified to possess hydrocarbon degradation potential. This review covers an overview of common hydrocarbon pollutants, microbes known as hydrocarbon degraders, major pathways and enzymes involved therein, factors affecting hydrocarbon degradation, and various approaches employed to exploit degrading capacity of microbes for remedial purpose. In addition to making use of inherent catabolic ability of degrader populations, metabolic engineering can be of considerable value in dealing with the problem of hydrocarbon contamination. Keywords: Bioremediation, Oxygenase, Biomagnification, Cometabolism, Consortium, Biosurfactant. Introduction Hydrocarbon (HC) group of compounds consist of hydrogen and carbon in their structure. As petrochemical industries are flourishing worldwide, HC contamination has become one of the major environmental problems faced globally. Environment is particularly being contaminated with accidental releases of petroleum products. Some of the HC compounds can prove carcinogenic and neurotoxic to different life forms. Bioremediation is a promising approach for the treatment of HC contaminated locations as it is cost effective and can lead to complete mineralization. Bioremediation strategy...
Words: 5784 - Pages: 24
...The Long- Term Effects of oil on ecosystems: A comparison of the Exxon Valdez and the BP oil spill The Exxon Valdez was a single hull, 987-foot super tanker built by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, out of San Diego, California. The Exxon Corporation commissioned this ship into service on December 11, 1986. After the March of 1989 collision with Bligh Reef, the vessel was towed to the shipyard in San Diego and repaired in June of 1989, more than 1,600 tons of steel needed replacing, and the cost of this repair was over $30 million dollars. The Valdez is back in use owned and operated by the Hong Kong Bloom Shipping LTD., renamed the Dong Fang Ocean, and registered out of Panama. At 12:04 A.M. on March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef, Captain Joseph Hazelwood was below decks and intoxicated, the vessel was under the control of the third mate, Gregory Cousins. It was later found that in addition to the intoxicated captain, the third mate, Gregory Cousins, did not have the proper endorsement on his coast guard license to operate a ship in the pristine waters of Prince William Sound, and on top of this Exxon failed to repair the damaged radar that could have prevented the accidental grounding of the ship. At the time of impact, the Valdez was carrying 55 million gallons of crude oil and 11 million gallons of crude was spilt into one of the most delicate, and bountiful marine ecosystems on earth, Prince William Sound. This number of 11 million...
Words: 3918 - Pages: 16
... | |Gulf Oil Spill | |[The devastating Impact - Discussion] | | | | | |[The Gulf Oil Spill brought into notice the impact that these disasters can cause. We need to look at how and what brunt it brought with it | |and how can we help avoid such conditions to appear again.] | The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill commenced on April 20, 2010 and continued for next 86 days. It was disastrous to the extent that it killed 11 men and led 17 people severely injured. The loss of crude oil is estimated to be 4.9 million barrels. This was controlled later but the devastating effect did not last. It has contributed to the deterioration of air and water through pollution. The oil evaporation happens to create very small particles called aerosols and...
Words: 895 - Pages: 4
...Environmental Regulations 1-0: Introduction Two vessels collided on august 1990 near Gibraltar in Spain resulting in a sea disaster and oil spill. Sea Spirit along with the Norwegian gas tanker collided head on causing a spill of about 8000Tons of oil. Oil contamination in the marine spread far, even reaching the Moroccan coast in form of cakes, tar balls, and oil packs. Similar to this disaster is the major oil spill that occurred on July in 1979 near Trinidad and Tobago caused by the Atlantic Empress. The spill allegedly resulted in the largest oil spill of 287,000Metric tons of oil ever to be recorded. The disaster was never totally remedied since during pull away from the scene, the tanker continued to spill an additional substantial amount of oil. Conversely, the Aegean Captain also leaked large amount of oil. Some moments later on, Atlantic Empress sank deeply with its cargo remaining solidified. However, the spill from the two ships never reached the shores of the ocean. 2-0: Similarities 2-1: Similarities in environmental effects In terms of ecological contamination, Both Sea Spirit and Atlantic Empress caused major impacts on sea animal and plant life. Sea birds became highly affected dipping the insulating capacity among such animals. Birds became highly vulnerable to temperature changes and less buoyant in water. The two oil spills contributed to huge impairments and disabilities related to flight in aquatic birds (Horn and Neal 2006, para 3). In fact, species found...
Words: 2896 - Pages: 12
...know what exactly an oil spill is-it is when carelessness of the crew or equipment issues creates a problem that causes an oil tanker to leak out oil into the water. Oil spills can have other motives behind them as well such as terrorists may create an oil spill to send a message. There are also illegal oil dumpers, who will deposit their crude oil (waste) into the ocean instead of decomposing it and spending the required money to do so. Below is a picture of an oil tanker leaking out oil. [pic] Exxon Valdez was the “largest oil spill to occur in the world,”* and the crisis began on March 23, 1989. The location was in Prince William Sound in Alaskan shore. Then of course there is the question of how it happened, the people on the Exxon Valdez ship had identified icebergs and decided to take a different route to get around them. Unfortunately the oil tanker crashed into shallow water, this area is actually called the Bligh Reef, but because of the hit the tanker had about 10 million gallons of crude oil into the reef. To help you really picture how much exactly that is, visualize about “125 Olympic sized swimming pools.”* Comparing this to other American oil spills this leak was enormous. The table below shows worldwide major oil calamities (not including Exxon Valdez), and none of them are in the US. [pic] The ways an oil spill can be dealt with are numerous. You can set up a boom around the tanker which is leaking the oil-this collects oil off the water and will...
Words: 1561 - Pages: 7
...SOIL ECOLOGY AND BIOREMIDIATION Faculty of Engineering and Architecture CIVE 652-Environmental biotechnology By: Contents INTRODUCTION 3 SOIL MICROORGANISMS 3 Bacteria and Actinomycetes 3 Protozoa 3 Algae 4 Fungi 4 Macrofauna and Mesofauna 4 SOIL UNDER OXIC AND ANOXIC CONDITIONS 4 SOIL CYCLES 5 Carbon Cycle 5 Nitrogen Cycle 6 Sulfur Cycle 7 SOIL POLLUTION 7 Main Causes of Soil Pollution: 7 Main Effects of Soil Pollution: 7 SOIL BIOREMEDIATION 8 EX SITU REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 8 EX SITU NON-BIOLOGICAL REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 9 1) Ex situ thermal processes 9 2) Ex situ chemical/physical remediation ( Soil scrubbing ) 9 EX SITU BIOLOGICAL REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 9 1) Composting 10 2) Land farming 11 3)Biopiling ( Heap technique) 12 4) Bioslurry reactor 13 IN SITU REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 13 IN SITU BIOLOGICAL REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 14 1) Bioventing 14 2) Biosparging 15 3) Bioaugmentation: 15 4)Biostimulation 15 4) Bioslurping : 16 5) Phytoremediation 16 IN SITU NON-BIOLOGICAL REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 16 1) In situ thermal processes 16 2) In situ chemical/physical process: Pump and treat processes 16 INFLUENCING FACTORS 16 CONCLUSION 17 Table of figures: Figure 1. Soil microorganisms pie chart 3 Figure 2. Acquisition of phosphate by Mycorrhizal roots………………………………...3 Figure 3. Mycorrhizal roots……………………………………………………………….4 Figure 4. Carbon Cycle 5 Figure 5. Nitrogen Cycle 6 Figure...
Words: 3689 - Pages: 15
...Chapter 1 notes 1.1 ubiquitous= found everywhere, found in all natural habitats (microbes). Microbiology- is a specialized area of biology that deals with tiny life forms that are not readily observe without magnification. microscopic= small to see. microbes= small life. -Groups of Organisms that we will be studying : bacteria, viruses, funny, protozoa, algae and helminths (parasitic worm) -Microbiology consider the largest and most complex of biological sciences. Here we study the aspects of microbes- their genetics, their physiology, characteristics that may be harmful or beneficial, the ways they interact with the environment, the way they interact wit other organisms, and their uses in industry and agriculture. -Some professions of microbiology are: Geomicrobiologist (earth), marine microbiologist, medical technologist (pathogenic microbes and diseases), nurse epidemiologist and astrobiologist. 1.2 Prokaryotic- simple cells that lack a nucleus (referring it as karyon) found 3.5 billion years ago. Eukaryotes- more complex, contain a nucleus and other complex internal structures found 1.8 billion years ago. (the early eukaryotes probably similar to algae and protozoa, started lines of evolution that eventually gave rise to fungi, plants and multicellular animas such as worms and insects) organelles= are structure in cells that are bound by one or more membranes. ex. mitochondria. All prokaryotes are microorganisms and include the bacteria and archaeons...
Words: 1201 - Pages: 5
...Center for Management Research N BECG 045 ot The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill D o This case was written by Jaya D. Sangtani, under the direction of Vivek Gupta, ICFAI Center for Management Research (ICMR). It was compiled from published sources, and is intended to be used as a basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. 2005, ICFAI Center for Management Research. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means- electronic or mechanical, without permission. To order copies, call 0091-40-2343-0462/63/64 or write to ICFAI Center for Management Research, Plot # 49, Nagarjuna Hills, Hyderabad 500 082, India or email icmr@icfai.org. Website: www.icmrindia.org BECG/045 THE EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL “ExxonMobil’s tactics are well-known, and this is a classic case of deny, dupe, and delay. Just as it denies the science on climate change, it denies that oil from the spill is causing damage in the Prince William Sound. And on both issues it is running campaigns to dupe the public into thinking it is an environmentally and socially responsible corporation.”1 - Anita Goldsmith, Greenpeace International Campaigner. “Exxon would meet its obligations to all those who have suffered damage from the spill.”2 op INTRODUCTION Lawrence Rawls, Chairman, Exxon. y - ...
Words: 7821 - Pages: 32
...Bacteria |I | |INTRODUCTION | Bacteria, one-celled organisms visible only through a microscope. Bacteria live all around us and within us. The air is filled with bacteria, and they have even entered outer space in spacecraft. Bacteria live in the deepest parts of the ocean and deep within Earth. They are in the soil, in our food, and on plants and animals. Even our bodies are home to many different kinds of bacteria. Our lives are closely intertwined with theirs, and the health of our planet depends very much on their activities. Bacterial cells are so small that scientists measure them in units called micrometers (µm). One micrometer equals a millionth of a meter (0.0000001 m or about 0.000039 in), and an average bacterium is about one micrometer long. Hundreds of thousands of bacteria would fit on a rounded dot made by a pencil. Bacteria lack a true nucleus, a feature that distinguishes them from plant and animal cells. In plants and animals the saclike nucleus carries genetic material in the form of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Bacteria also have DNA but it floats within the cell, usually in a loop or coil. A tough but resilient protective shell surrounds the bacterial cell. Biologists classify all life forms as either prokaryotes or eukaryotes. Prokaryotes are simple, single-celled organisms like bacteria. They lack a defined nucleus of the sort found in plant and animal cells. More complex organisms, including all plants and animals, whose cells have a...
Words: 7813 - Pages: 32
...A Review of Literature Related to Oil Spill Dispersants 1997-2008 for Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) Anchorage, Alaska by Merv Fingas Spill Science Edmonton, Alberta PWSRCAC Contract Number - 955.08.03 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this PWSRCAC-commissioned report are not necessarily those of PWSRCAC September, 2008 ii Abstract This report is a review of the literature on oil spill dispersants published from 1997 to August, 2008. The report identifies and focusses on recent advances in dispersant effectiveness, toxicity, and biodegradation. Other topics such as application, use, behaviour and fate are also covered. The prime motivation for using dispersants is to reduce the impact of oil on shorelines, thus the application must be successful and effectiveness high. As some oil would come ashore, discussion remains on what effectiveness is required to significantly reduce the shoreline impact. A major issue is the actual effectiveness during spills so that these values can be used in estimates for the future. The second motivation for using dispersants is to reduce the impact on birds and mammals on the water surface. The benefits of using dispersants to reduce impacts on wildlife still remain unknown. The third motivation for using dispersants is to promote the biodegradation of oil in the water column. The effect of dispersants on biodegradation is still a matter of dispute. Some papers state that dispersants inhibit...
Words: 82016 - Pages: 329
...Biotechnology Insulin crystals Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make useful products, or "any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use" (UN Convention on Biological Diversity).[1] Depending on the tools and applications, it often overlaps with the (related) fields of bioengineering and biomedical engineering. For thousands of years, humankind has used biotechnology in agriculture, food production and medicine.[2] The term itself is largely believed to have been coined in 1919 by Hungarian engineer Karl Ereky. In the late 20th and early 21st century, biotechnology has expanded to include new and diverse sciences such as genomics, recombinant gene technologies, applied immunology, and development of pharmaceutical therapies and diagnostic tests.[3] Definitions of biotechnology The concept of 'biotech' or 'biotechnology' encompasses a wide range of procedures (and history) for modifying living organisms according to human purposes — going back to domestication of animals, cultivation of plants, and "improvements" to these through breeding programs that employ artificial selection and hybridization. Modern usage also includes genetic engineering as well as cell and tissue culture technologies. Biotechnology is defined by the American Chemical Society as the application of biological organisms, systems, or processes by various...
Words: 6516 - Pages: 27
...Valdez Oil Spill Case Studies of Four Sites in Prince William Sound, 1989-1994 September 1997 Seattle, Washington noaa NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION National Ocean Service Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce The Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment (ORCA) provides decisionmakers comprehensive, scientific information on characteristics of the oceans, coastal areas, and estuaries of the United States of America. The information ranges from strategic, national assessments of coastal and estuarine environmental quality to real-time information for navigation or hazardous materials spill response. Through its National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program, ORCA uses uniform techniques to monitor toxic chemical contamination of bottom-feeding fish, mussels and oysters, and sediments at about 300 locations throughout the United States. A related NS&T Program of directed research examines the relationships between contaminant exposure and indicators of biological responses in fish and shellfish. ORCA provides critical scientific support to the U.S. Coast Guard during spills of oil or hazardous materials into marine or estuarine environments. This support includes spill trajectory predictions, chemical hazard analyses, and assessments of the sensitivity of marine and estuarine environments to spills. The program ...
Words: 46598 - Pages: 187
...This page intentionally left blank Office of Solid Waste And Emergency Response (5102G) EPA 542-R-04-015 September 2004 www.epa.gov/tio clu-in.org/marketstudy Cleaning Up the Nation’s Waste Sites: Markets and Technology Trends 2004 Edition This page intentionally left blank Notice Preparation of this report has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under contract number 68-W-03-038. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendations for use. This document is intended for information purposes and does not create new nor alter existing Agency policy or guidance. The document does not impose any requirements or obligations on EPA, states, other federal agencies, or the regulated community. A limited number of printed copies of Cleaning Up the Nation’s Waste Sites: Markets and Technology Trends, 2004 Edition is available free of charge by mail or by facsimile from: U.S. EPA/National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) P.O. Box 42419 Cincinnati, OH 45242-2419 Telephone: 513-489-8190 or 800-490-9198 Fax: 513-489-8695 A portable document format (PDF) version of this report is available for viewing or downloading from the Hazardous Waste Cleanup Information (CLU-IN) web site at http://clu-in.org/marketstudy. Printed copies can also be ordered through that web address, subject to availability. For More Information For more information about remediation...
Words: 87601 - Pages: 351
