What If The Next Oil Spill Could Be Dinner For Microorganisms?

Pollution is an ongoing reality. From time to time, dramatic oil spills make international news. Smaller spills or leaks plague everyday industrial activity. In light of these persistent hazards to the ecosystem, what can be done to clean up the environment and avoid serious fines and liabilities that threaten industries?

While some companies rely on chemical extraction, incineration, or the use of chemical dispersants for contaminant cleanup, Bionetix® International takes a superior approach by harnessing the power of nature to turn oil spills into dinner for microorganisms.

The Power of Bio-Dispersants

Just as humans prefer the convenience of readymade food, microbes that consume hydrocarbons must first be given easy access to contaminants before they can digest them.

pollution oil spill microorganisms — Image Credits: cortecvci.com

This is done by the use of surfactants and dispersants, which desorb contaminants from the soil or break oil slicks and spills into smaller droplets that are more accessible. Unfortunately, chemical dispersants have seen wide but controversial use tied to health concerns. However, the same dispersing mechanism is available through BIOSURF™, which relies on a naturally derived biosurfactant from plant extracts as its main active ingredient. BIOSURF™ has high dispersing power and also acts as a strong biostimulant to promote biodegradation.

A Feast for Microorganisms

Microorganisms that naturally occur in the environment have been known to rise to the occasion and multiply when there is an oil spill. These microorganisms release enzymes that help them digest surrounding contaminants and use them as a food source. Humans can potentially boost and speed this process by bioaugmentation—adding specially selected microorganisms targeted to digest hydrocarbons. For example, Bionetix® BCP35S™ contains organisms that will degrade a wide range of petroleum hydrocarbons such as gasoline, diesel, crude oil, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene in soil. Bioaugmentation with BCP35S™ can deep clean soils, reduce pollution liability, and lower disposal costs. BCP35M™ is similar but suited to marine or wastewater applications.

Positive Field Trials

Two recent field trials showed a significant reduction in soil hydrocarbon contaminants when Bionetix® biologicals were applied.

In Bulgaria, an ongoing trial (temporarily interrupted by COVID and later freezing winter temperatures) experienced a swift drop in petroleum hydrocarbons after the application of BIOSURF™ and BCP35S™.

Hydrocarbons decreased from approximately 39,574 mg.kg-1 to approximately 10,919 mg.kg-1 in the first nine weeks (a 72% reduction, approx.) and continued to drop after a temporary spike (possibly due to false positives or longer chain hydrocarbons breaking down into shorter chains that could actually be measured).

Results were similar in a Canadian trial, where petroleum hydrocarbons dropped more than 70% in only 20 days after treatment with BCP35S™ and BIOSURF™.

In-Situ/Ex-Situ Treatment and Spill Kits

One of the great things about Bionetix® solutions is their flexibility for use onsite or offsite, at a gas station, in a landfill, in marine environments, or by the side of the road. This reduces the hassle for oil companies and engineers looking for effective options to clean up the soil.

oil spill representation — Image Credits: cortecvci.com

Other companies just need good options to comply with spill plan regulations and avoid serious fines. Bionetix® offers superior technology for all of these situations by harnessing the power of nature to clean up the environment, simply by helping more microorganisms to the “table” to dine on hydrocarbons.

Press Release