Bioremediation
Anna Johanna Willers - 2016048783 | Nikiwe Kheswa - 2016152478 | Asithandile Gajana - 2016244820 |
Sisipho Sathula – 2016282978 | Tshegofatso Matseba – 2017141330 | Sibulele Kutu - 2013079575
Purpose of the experiment
To determine the effectiveness of oil spill clean-up solutions
• Human reliance on hydrocarbons such as oil and petroleum for energy has resulted in
spills in the ocean from offshore drilling sites and ships that are transporting these
hydrocarbons and encounter an accident in the sea.
• These spills are detrimental to the marine environments and their organisms.
• Scientists across the world have produced clean-up solutions that will alleviate the effects
of the oil in the marine ecosystems.
• Students will create their own oil spill and use cleanup solutions to remedy the oil spill.
• They will then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the clean-up solutions.
• The following clean up solutions will be examined:
1. Skimming: Removal of oil on the surface of water
2. Absorbing
3. Dispersing oil
To determine the effectiveness of oil spill clean-up solutions
• Measuring the amount of oil in a spillage is the last step in cleaning up oil spills.
• Scientists will measure the amount of oil present in a set amount of water obtained from
the spillage.
• Then, they will add the necessary microorganisms who digests oil, releasing unharmful
gasses into the environment.
• Lastly, they will measure the amount of oil in the spillage after a set amount of time.
To determine the effectiveness of oil spill clean-up solutions
What is bioremediation?
• Bioremediation is the use of microorganisms to clean up pollutants like, oil spills in open
oceans and toxic chemicals in soil or underground water.
• These microorganisms convert contaminants into small amounts of water and harmless
gases like carbon dioxide.
• This only happens when the microorganism is in an environment with the right temperature,
nutrients and food available. The absence of these elements may prolong the cleanup.
• In the case of absence of these elements the addition of oil
or molasses may optimize the conditions for the microorganism
to flourish when the contaminate is the soil.
What is bioremediation?
• Bioremediation is not an “overnight” solution the process may take several months or even years to
be complete, depending on the size of the contaminated area or the concentration of the contaminate.
• Because bioremediation relies heavily on natural processes it is relatively green, and it minimizes
damage to the ecosystem because the byproducts are not that harmful.
• The pollutants may include natural or synthetic chemicals like:
• Uranium, Hydrocarbons (Organic pollutants), Pesticides (Organic pollutants) and Plastics (Organic
pollutants)
Experimental design
• Skimming • Absorption • Dispersal
Procedure
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6
• Pour the same •Add a different 1.Skimming: Take Absorption: Dispersal:
one bowl and • Compare the
amount of food colouring/ Take the Remove oil
water into three dye into each remove the top second bowl results of the
by adding
plastic bowls bowl in order to layer of oil in the and use cotton three bowls.
mixture with a dish soap to
and pour the differentiate pads to absorb
plastic spoon. the third
same amount between the the oil and
of oil into the two solvents, Some water may transfer it to a bowl. Stir the
plastic bowls. and also to be be transferred. beaker. Some mixture
able to In general water may be thoroughly.
Skimming is Tiny droplets
measure the transferred.
great for of oil will
effectiveness of Then, squeeze
removing the
each process thick layer of oil.. all the cotton form.
that will be pads you threw Remove the
mentioned into beaker to tiny droplets
throughout the make sure you from the bowl
experiment. only have oil on using a
The oil will the cotton pads
sterile plastic
remain the
same colour, spoon. Add
however the to another
water will clean
change colour. container.
You can
combine this
technique
with
skimming or
absorption.
Expected outcome
SKIMMING
• Skimming is great for removing the thick layer of oil.
• However, it is difficult to remove thinner layers of oil with skimming.
• Some water may be removed with the oil.
• Skimming cleans the oil on the surface of the water, so it does not necessarily reach
certain depths.
• It still picks up a lot of water and is prohibited by rough seas or bodies of water, so it is
reliant on calm conditions.
Expected outcome
SORBENTS
• These are materials that soak liquids up.
• They are the most used when it comes to the removal of final traces of oils, when
skimmers cannot reach certain areas.
• After their usage in the recovery of oil, sorbents must be removed from the body of water
and must be disposed of properly; they can even be cleaned and re-used.
• The method of using sorbents is the best in terms of cleaning up or collecting the most oil.
• Sorbents are used a lot as final cleanup when other methods are applied.
• This method is highly recommended by a lot of scientists.
Expected outcome
DISPERSAL
• Heavy oils such as crude oils would not disperse, but the medium to light oils would.
• Dispersants are most effective when they are applied immediately after an oil spill
occurs, before the light components of the oil evaporate.
• Since dispersants break down the substances into smaller droplets, it makes them readily
available to the microbes that will consume them and break them down into less harmful
compounds.
• However, this method separates the oil and does not necessarily clean it up.
• In order to be effective, it must be used in conjunction with the other methods.
