Oil Gone Easy

S-200 is a bioremediation product used to clean up oil spills. It is an oleophilic nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizer, that attracts microorganisms in the local environment which convert hydrocarbons (such as oil and fuel) into water and other harmless byproducts. S-200 has been tested on a beach that had been affected by the Prestige oil spill off the coast of Spain in 2002, and shown to enhance the biodegradation rate of specific compounds, but without conclusion as to whether it improved the visible aspect of the beach, detached stuck oil, or reduced weathered oil. It has been found to be less effective than other fertilizers.
The product was developed by International Environmental Products which has been working since 2000 to improve the bioremediation treatments used to clean up oil pollution.
Field tests
In 2006, a field bioremediation assay was conducted by the Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona on the use of S-200 ten months after the Prestige heavy fuel-oil spill on a beach of the Cantabrian coast in northern Spain. The field survey indicated that S-200 enhanced the biodegradation rate, particularly of high molecular weight n-alkanes, alkylcyclohexanes, and benzenes, and alkylated PAHs. The most significant molecular bioremediation indicators were the depletion of diasteranes and C-27 sterane components.
However, the study was confined to analysis of specific compounds, and did not report whether the application of S-200 caused a decrease in the amount of weathered oil, the detachment of any oil that had been stuck, or any improvement to the visible appearance of the beach.
In 2006, other researchers summarized the findings of experiments on Prestige-affected coastal areas, concluding that oloephilic fertilizers such as S-200 were of "limited effectiveness".
A 2007 test by researchers at the Technical University of Crete comparing a control to treatment by S-200 and treatment by uric acid and lecithin found that the hydrocarbon degredation in a period of 7 days was greater with the uric acid and lecithin treatment than it was with the S-200 treatment and the control.
Usage
S-200 usually comes in the form of a white liquid that can be sprayed on oil spills. A ratio of 1:1 in terms of mass is usually used when spraying. For example, if the weight of the spill is estimated to be 1 kg, then the amount of liquid that needs to be sprayed is 1 kg. Experts recommend that the oil spill be contained and cleaned up as far as possible before use on spills. Since S-200 makes use of local bacteria, the product does not have any environmental side effects.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu