PR97990

BANGKOK, OCT. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Chula Faculty of Science has developed bioproducts to clean up marine oil

spills from a research on oil-eating microbes while getting ready to expand to

industrial-scale production for ecological sustainability.

Major marine oil spills that leave residual pollutants have detrimental effects

on the economy, tourism, as well as the marine environment in the long run. One

solution is oil-eating microbes bioproducts developed with clean technology by

the Center of Excellence in Microbial Technology for Marine Pollution

Treatment, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn

University, under the supervision of Associate Professor Dr. Onruthai Pinyakong.

Concept Origins

"Usually, managing oil spills starts with physical methods, like oil booms, or

oil dispersants followed by biodegradation, which is slow and unpredictable.

So, if the biodegradation process can be accelerated, it should bring about

major benefits," said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Onruthai who then turned to "oil-eating

microbes".

Thailand — the source of quality and diverse microorganisms

To accelerate the biodegradation process, sufficient quantities of effective

oil-eating microbes developed into bioproducts with a long shelf life must be

used.

Thailand has high biodiversity -- a good source of pollutants-degrading

microorganisms. Pollutant eating and biosurfactants producing microorganisms

were thus selected from previously contaminated sites with high biodiversity

such as marine sediments, sediments from mangrove forests, as well as water or

soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. They were then cultured and

multiplied while ensuring that the isolated microorganisms are not pathogenic,

and safe for users and the environment. The isolated toxins-digesting microbes,

aka oil-eating microbes, were then developed into 3 types of lab products:

- Ready-to-use liquid formula suitable for contaminated sand or soil.

- Microbial product pellets suitable to treat contaminated soil or sand while

promoting aeration and biodegradation.

- Microbial immobilization suitable for contaminated water.

Expanding research into industrial production

This research has received widespread feedback and support from both the public

and private sectors who give much importance to the Bio-Circular-Green Economic

Model which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the

United Nations.

If these bioproducts to clean marine oil spills can reach commercial-scale

production and use, they will be part of the BCG Economy using truly clean

technology, which the research team is ready to transfer to investors and

interested parties to collaborate and develop in the future.

For more information, visit https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/84839/

SOURCE-Chulalongkorn University Communication Center

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   Caption: The bioproducts to clean sea oil spills