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