Anne Basseres

N-alkane biodegradation by a marine bacterium in the presence of an oleophilic nutriment

SummaryHexadecane biodegradation by a marine bacterium has been investigated in the presence of an oleophilic nutriment (INIPOL EAP 22). Hydrocarbon attack was only observed after metabolism of the fatty acids present in the fertilizer. The bacterium used up 95 % fatty acids in the first 24 hours. Hexadecane biodegradation took place after 50 h incubation and reached 40 % after 360 h.

ENHANCEMENT OF SPILLED OIL BIODEGRADATION BY NUTRIENTS OF NATURAL ORIGIN

ABSTRACT Ten years ago, Elf Aquitaine began developing the technologies for the acceleration of hydrocarbon biodegradation. The continuation of this work has involved the study of new additives to ...

Mode of action of an oleophilic nutrient in enhancing 14C-hexadecane mineralization by a marine bacterial community

Hexadecane mineralization by a bacterial consortium isolated from a non heavily contaminated coastal seawater was largely increased by an enrichment with Inipol EAP 22 (10% w/w). In the conditions of the experiment, the efficiency of this oleophilic nutrient is linked to the organic N and P sources (urea and lauryl-phosphate) and, to a lesser extent, to the presence of a readily available carbon source (oleic acid). Otherwise, the micro emulsion nature of the formulation and its physical properties seem to play a major role in accelerating hexadecane mineralization.

PROTECTION OF COASTAL SHORELINES FROM OIL SPILLS USING NATURAL AGENTS

ABSTRACT Some products have been proposed which will reduce the adhesion of oil to rocks, and thus diminish the impact of oil spills on shorelines. The products are natural, biodegradable materials...

A NEW CLEANING PRODUCT FOR OILED BIRDS AND AN INTEGRATED AUTOMATED PROCESS

ABSTRACT A new product for cleaning oiled birds was tested. A laboratory test was made in which several duck feathers, polluted with aged oil, were cleaned in 40° C water with the new product, then rinsed with cold water. Under these conditions, 90 percent of the oil was removed using the new product, versus 30 percent removal in control tests. Standard toxicity testing procedures were used to show the nontoxicity of the product. The new product was then tested using Sintef-Unimed techniques and metabolic activity tests on six mallard ducks. The cleaning process was easy and quick; birds recovered normal metabolic rate and thermal insulation one day after cleaning. Similar results were obtained on site in a rehabilitation center, where birds were also efficiently cleaned. The recovery rate for wild birds was about 60 percent after two weeks, with much higher hydrophobicity recovery rate when using the new product than when using the reference product. This new product for cleaning oiled birds appeared ver...