'Super Bacteria' clean up after oil spills
Summary:
Recently in Norway, researchers tested the effectiveness of bacteria in cleaning up oil spills. This method of natural cleansing is called bioremediation. They applied different conditions to each experimental clean up, and each experiment lasted one month. First, researchers simulated tides by replacing seawater, ensuring that there was an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients. After a month, only small amounts of contaminants had been removed. Other variables they tested that had little effect on results were increasing the tidal interval from three to twelve hours, increasing the water temperature, and reducing the concentration of oxygen. However, one environmental change was made that vastly increased the effectiveness of the bacteria. When extra nutrients were added, and the bacteria were able to work in areas of high concentrations of phosphates and nitrogen, they were able to work significantly more effectively. This study will certainly be useful when a future oil spill occurs.
Connection:
This article connects to what we learned about bacteria in our unit on Microbes. Specifically, it relates to our study of bacterial decomposers and the process of bioremediation. Bioremediation is the use of bacteria, plants, and enzymes to clean up pollution, such as the pollution caused by an oil spill. Oil spills can be very harmful to an ecosystem, and bioremediation is needed in order to remove contaminants that have settled into the soil. In the future, scientists are hoping to develop capsules that will provide the nutrients as and when needed to provide ideal growing environments.
Citation:
Author: Christina Benjaminsen
Date of Publication: March 10, 2014
URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140310090615.htm
What type of bacteria did the Norwegian researchers use and does the cell wall composition affect the bacteria's effectiveness? Also, would this process not work for inorganic cleanup (since the bacteria may only ingest organic substances), or are there types that can eat synthetic materials (like some fungi)?.
ReplyDeletewhat type of enzyme does the bacteria use to break down the oil?
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DeleteThere are many types of enzymes that can be used in bioremediation, but some common ones are lignin peroxidases, carboxyesterase, parathionhydrolase, and dehydrodechlorinase.
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