Biodegradation of oil in the Arctic: Enhancement by oil-soluble fertilizer application

Abstract

Oil exploration in arctic regions will require special oil spill cleanup methods for shorelines. The application of fertilizers to speed biodegradation of oil may hold promise. INIPOL EAP22, an oil-soluble fertilizer that is nontoxic and biodegradable, was tested in a series of experiments on Spitsbergen, Norway, to determine its effectiveness under various conditions. The fertilizer was applied to floating oil and to oil on shoreline sediments. Effectiveness of the treatments varied. The oil-on-water experiments showed virtually no signs of bio-degradation, perhaps because photooxidation products and low-boiling-point hydrocarbons interfered. Experiments with oil in sediments showed mixed results: oil in finer sediments showed little or no biodegradation, but oil in coarser sediments was significantly biodegraded. Uptake and exchange of nutrients depends on the complex growth kinetics of the bacteria involved, and requires detailed study.