Why are they not using bioremediation on the Gulf oil spill ? Evidently these are naturally occuring microbes, available in powdered form, which feed on the oil and digest it into harmless compounds.

1 Answer

Answer :

answer:I’m not a scientist, but the site you linked does say “The microbes are simply mixed with water and sprayed on the oil as it reaches the calmer waters near shore or on shore itself.” That could be the reason right there. A lot of the oil is beneath the surface and ideally, they want to take care of without letting all of it get to the calmer waters near the shore. Not to mention that no matter what we do to clean up what is already there, it’s just going to be replaced with more oil until we stop the leak. Right now, I believe the focus is on stopping the leak. They are trying something new now, but that will take a few days before we will know if it is successful. I will give BP some credit. Each time something fails, they are right there trying something new without wasting a lot of time in between attempts. It sucks that they haven’t stopped the leak yet, but I honestly think they are trying. On another site, I saw that these microbes use oxygen to “eat” the oil, there by depleting the oxygen available for the fish there in the water. So it’s not exactly 100% without it’s own cost either. It does sound like a great idea for clean up, as long as it can be used before all the oil gets to the shore and it can get to the water that’s under the surface.

Related questions

Description : With the Oil Spill, How Will You Get Seafood in Texas?

Last Answer : answer:I intend to stop eating shrimp entirely. I don’t trust it coming out of the Gulf and I certainly don’t want to support shrimp being flown in from Southeast Asia, so I’m done. Trout is your new friend if you want seafood that used to come from the Gulf of Mexico.

Description : Do you think that all is needed on the coast is volunteers to minimize the damage?

Last Answer : answer:The fact that Obama hasn't made an exemption here of the Jones act is mind boggling to me! This is hurting us more than BP' bungling of the containing of the leak. We have an entire fleet of ... this Jones Act BS!! Repeal it or execute an executive order now Mr. President!! HS this is nuts!!

Description : When the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred, technologists "fertilized" the oil-soaked water with _____ to modify the environment and stimulate he growth of naturally occurring microorganisms. a. nitrogen sources (e.g., urea) b. phosphorus compounds c. other mineral nutrients d. A-C above are correct

Last Answer : d. A-C above are correct

Description : Is using a nuclear weapon the only way to stop the oil spill in the Gulf?

Last Answer : answer:There are several plans in the works. They’re currently working on drilling a relief well. This takes time. They are drilling 2½ miles below sea level. It doesn’t happen overnight. Let’s see how the realistic solutions work before you go nuking our ecosystem out of existence.

Description : What are the updates on the gigantic oil spill of the Gulf?

Last Answer : The next step is being taken. On the east coast I have noticed a huge influx of commercials about how beautiful the beaches in Floriada are, come spend your vacation in Florida, etc. At the end ... Florida tourism. They have swept any residual oil affects under the rug or actually, under the ocean.

Description : Will a successful oil spill clean up in the gulf leave a residue that is not able to be cleaned?

Last Answer : answer:No, but close. There is always residuals. Like the ocean you can then run the pool filter to get the rest of the nasties out.

Description : Do you think the oil spill in the Gulf will eventually kill all the algea in the ocean, causing no new oxygen to be released, and the eventual extinction of all life on earth in a few months?

Last Answer : I have no idea if it will cause human extinction within a few months but it will have a severe effect on human health, marine life, and our water supply. The well has no predetermined amount ... leak alone, humans will be extinct. We are getting there closer each day with new historic disasters.

Description : Does anyone know if Obama is allowing BP to drill relief wells to stop the Gulf oil spill?

Last Answer : Yes, two of them.

Description : Why is BP still in charge of the Gulf oil spill?

Last Answer : Maybe because the right would scream socialism again. And it would cost alot of money so they would also complain about spending.

Description : What effect will the BP oil spill have on shrimp, caught in the Gulf?

Last Answer : There’s already a moratorium on commercial fishing. Last I heard specifically it covered to the Panhandle of Florida, but it’s expected to reach as far south as Naples. Expect prices to go up.

Description : Powerful Gulf of Mexico conveyer belt - Was it a mistake to use chemicals fighting the oil spill?

Last Answer : This whole situation makes me ill. It literally makes my teeth ache. They keep changing strategies and nothing seems to help. What suggestions have been made other than the ones that have been used?

Description : Is there any positive ecological effect possible from the Gulf oil spill?

Last Answer : answer:Good question. I wonder if the spilled oil is different than natural, fresh-out-of-the-ground oil. If so, the question would fundamentally change, because the oil wouldn’t be a naturally occurring product as-is. Check this out.

Description : Should the US use the old Russian trick to deal with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

Last Answer : answer:So if the Ruskies could do it then why can’t we? Seems they were quite successful at it too! I love a good BOOM every now and then! Letting this well bleed this long is criminal! Link to article… http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0504/russian-paper-suggests-nuclear-explosion-cut-gulf-oil-geyser/

Description : Your thoughts on offshore oil drilling,now that there is a oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

Last Answer : answer:My stance on Spilled oil in our oceans is bad has remained unchanged. I also think we can drill in the oceans and still take reasonable precautions to see that these sorts of things don't happen ... make efforts to clean up our messes. That last part is where the US has a bad track record.

Description : The biggest oil spill in world history took place in the : (1) Mediterrarean Sea (2) Caspian Sea (3) Persian Gulf (4) South China Sea

Last Answer : (4) South China Sea Explanation: The worst oil spill in history wasn't an accident -it was deliberate. During the Gulf War in 1991, as Iraqi forces retreated from Kuwait, they opened the ... largest oil spill history has seen. Some 240 million gallons of crude oil flowed into the Persian Gulf.

Description : The biggest oil spill in world history took place in the : (1) Mediterrarean Sea (2) Caspian Sea (3) Persian Gulf (4) South China Sea

Last Answer : South China Sea

Description : Is bullying taught or it is naturally occuring in kids?

Last Answer : I have worked in the child care field, and I believe there are some children between 2 and 5 who are naturally aggressive and mean. If raised properly, they can lose these traits by the age of 6 or 7.Children can also be taught to be mean.

Description : Chlorophyll is a naturally occuring chelate compound in, what is the which the central metal in this? -General Knowledge

Last Answer : answer:

Description : Chlorophyll is a naturally occuring chelate compound in, what is the which the central metal in this? -General Knowledge

Last Answer : answer:

Description : Tartaric acid `[HO_(2)CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO_(2)H]` was an important compound in history of stereochemistry. Two naturally occuring forms of tartaric acid ar

Last Answer : Tartaric acid `[HO_(2)CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO_(2)H]` was an important compound in history ... . D. Optically inactive due to intramoleuclar hydrogen bonding.

Description : Tartaric acid `[HO_(2)CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO_(2)H]` was an important compound in history of stereochemistry. Two naturally occuring forms of tartaric acid ar

Last Answer : Tartaric acid `[HO_(2)CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO_(2)H]` was an important compound in history of stereochemistry. Two ... form Q is A. B. C. D. none of these

Description : Tartaric acid `[HO_(2)CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO_(2)H]` was an important compound in history of stereochemistry. Two naturally occuring forms of tartaric acid ar

Last Answer : Tartaric acid `[HO_(2)CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO_(2)H]` was an important compound in history ... . D. Optically inactive due to intramoleuclar hydrogen bonding.

Description : Tartaric acid `[HO_(2)CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO_(2)H]` was an important compound in history of stereochemistry. Two naturally occuring forms of tartaric acid ar

Last Answer : Tartaric acid `[HO_(2)CCH(OH)CH(OH)CO_(2)H]` was an important compound in history of stereochemistry. Two ... form Q is A. B. C. D. none of these

Description : The radiation from naturally occuring radioactive substance as seen after deflection by a magnetic field in one direction are :

Last Answer : The radiation from naturally occuring radioactive substance as seen after deflection by a magnetic field in one ... D. either `alpha` or `beta`-rays

Description : Chlorophyll is a naturally occuring chelate compound, what is the central metal in this?

Last Answer : Magnesium

Description : Zeolite is a/an (A) Naturally occuring clay which is capable of exchanging cations (B) Abrasive material (C) Catalyst used in shift conversion (D) None of these

Last Answer : (A) Naturally occuring clay which is capable of exchanging cations

Description : Naturally occuring anti-malarial drug is?

Last Answer : Artemisinin

Description : In making beer, in the process of ____ barley grains are steeped in water while naturally occurring enzymes digest the starch to simpler carbohydrates. a. steeping b. mashing c. maltng d. worting

Last Answer : c. maltng

Description : Reciprocating screens are normally inclined at an angle of 5° with the horizontal and employ gyratory motion at feed end & reciprocating motion at the discharge end. They are not suitable for the ... Dry chemicals (C) Heavy tonnages of rocks or gravel (D) Powdered food & granular materials

Last Answer : (C) Heavy tonnages of rocks or gravel

Description : A genetically engineered microorganism used successfully in bioremediation of oil spills is a species of (a) Trichoderma (b) Xanthomonas (c) Bacillus (d) Pseudomonas.

Last Answer : (d) Pseudomonas.

Description : One of the benefits of biofilms is _____. a. quorum sensing b. keeping aquariums clean c. bioremediation of toxic wastes d. production of oil

Last Answer : c. bioremediation of toxic wastes

Description : Evidently Apple will be putting out an ipad Mini. Anybody know the exact dimensions?

Last Answer : No. I don't see any need for that size in my life, as it is halfway between a touch-screen phone and a 10 tablet. But many people find that the mini tablets are a happy medium of being more portable ... being able to do more than s phone with the larger screen, so I can see how it has a niche.

Description : Which of the following geographical term related with a naturally formed, narrow, typically navigable waterway that connects two larger bodies of water? A. Peninsula B. Gulf C. Strait D. Island

Last Answer : C. Strait

Description : Can I get the LinkedIn group digest emails as an RSS feed?

Last Answer : answer:LinkedIn doesn't seem to have any RSS feeds. I use Feedly and a useful feature is if you go to Add Content and enter just the url without the http or www eg linkedin.com, Feedly will ... have one that I particularly recommend as they tend to come and go, but I have used them successfully.

Description : How to fix body health fast ? I am currently 20 years old , height 5 feet 6 inches and I weigh 49 kg and BMI 18.00 . When I was at home, 0.5 liters per day. I used to eat cow's milk but after ... to buy. How can I gain 10 kg weight in 3 months ?? Looking for the right advice to fix my health ???

Last Answer : It is not possible to gain weight fast. It will take some time to get fat or weight. Usually if you are a little fat you will gain weight. So I am not giving any separate tips for weight gain. You ... weight. Food: Drink vegetables , small fish , meat , eggs , milk , banana and water after a while.

Description : Putty is (A) Made with finely powdered chalk and linseed oil (B) Used for fixing glass panes (C) Softened by a solution of pearl ash and quick-lime soaked in water (D) All the above

Last Answer : Answer: Option D

Description : Putty is made up of a) White lead and turpentine b) Powdered chalk and raw linseed oil* c) Red lead and linseed oil d) Zinc oxide and boiled linseed oil

Last Answer : b) Powdered chalk and raw linseed oil*

Description : Why can't they just pull a condom on the oil spill?

Last Answer : The oil is coming out under too much pressure to just put a covering over the end of the pipe. It would just burst like a balloon.

Description : Which one has been genetically modified to help in bioremediation

Last Answer : Which one has been genetically modified to help in bioremediation A. Pseudomonas B. Xanthomonas C. Nitrosococcus D. Trichoderma

Description : Trichoderma harzianum has proved a useful microorganism for (a) gene transfer in higher plants (b) biological control of soil-borne plant pathogens (c) bioremediation of contaminated soils (d) reclamation of wastelands.

Last Answer : (b) biological control of soil-borne plant pathogens

Description : The process of use of microorganism to remove salts from soil is referred as (A) Chelation (B) Bioremediation (C) Oxidation (D)Phyto – remediation

Last Answer : (B) Bioremediation

Description : How can biofilms can be useful? a. preventing tooth decay b. keeping surgical sites sterile c. bioremediation d. A-C are correct

Last Answer : c. bioremediation

Description : Treatment of the hazardous substances in the environment with the help of living organisms is called as a. Bioremediation b. Waste management c. Waste control d. Biodegradation

Last Answer : a. Bioremediation

Description : In bioremediation, bio-films are usually used a. At the source of pollutant b. After collection of pollutant c. After treatment of pollutant d. Before pollutant is produced

Last Answer : a. At the source of pollutant

Description : The most effective agents of bioremediation at ultra level will be a. Plants b. Worms c. Bacteria d. Insects

Last Answer : c. Bacteria

Description : The basic idea behind Huffman coding is to A. compress data by using fewer bits to encode fewer frequently occuring characters B. compress data by using fewer bits to encode more ... frequently occuring characters D. expand data by using fewer bits to encode more frequently occuring characters

Last Answer : B. compress data by using fewer bits to encode more frequently occuring characters

Description : The basic idea behind Huffman coding is to a. compress data by using fewer bits to encode fewer frequently occuring characters b. compress data by using fewer bits to encode more ... frequently occuring characters d. expand data by using fewer bits to encode more frequently occuring characters

Last Answer : b. compress data by using fewer bits to encode more frequently occuring characters

Description : What do we learn from the oil spill disasters? Pipeline or trains?

Last Answer : What we learn is that transporting petrochemicals is very dangerous, and because of that it needs to be highly regulated. When the rules are relaxed or overlooked, disaster happens.

Description : Are we paying for the oil spill now?

Last Answer : answer:I'm sure we are, but gas prices will simply continue to rise here and everywhere as global demand increases. Every day, hundreds of thousands of people buy their first car or motorbike, and oil is ... I think gas in the US is way too cheap compared to the actual cost of fueling our vehicles.