skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Bioremediation with oleophilic fertilizer

Conference ·
OSTI ID:141339

To enhance hydrocarbon breakdown by indigenous microbial communities, a fertilizer formulation that would keep nutrients in contact with oil, was designed ten years ago by ELF AQUITAINE. The fertilizer known as INIPOL EAP 22 is an oil soluble additive but also an easily biodegradable carbon source (oleic acid). Numerous experiments, in both laboratory and field, have shown that the application of this fertilizer increases the number of hydrocarbon degrading organisms and the extent and rate of hydrocarbon biodegradation Laboratory experiments with radiolabelled hydrocarbons have shown that in addition to its physico chemical role, oleic acid acts as a biological starter, increasing the biomass and the rate of biodegradation. A large bioremediation project in ALASKA has shown that it its possible to enhance the biodegradation of oil through the application of such a fertilizer, on coarse sediments. Recently, on sandy sediments, the use of INIPOL EAP 22 shown a clear development in hydrocarbon specific bacteria, and an increase of the rate of biodegradation.

OSTI ID:
141339
Report Number(s):
CONF-930304-; TRN: 93:003688-1016
Resource Relation:
Conference: 205. American Chemical Society national meeting, Denver, CO (United States), 28 Mar - 2 Apr 1993; Other Information: PBD: 1993; Related Information: Is Part Of 205th ACS national meeting; PB: 1951 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English