Bio-Remediation (Stimulation)
APPLICATION CONTROL
Liquid and water-soluble products can have adverse affects (e.g. algae bloom) caused by uncontrolled overstimulation (multiple applications and/or over-treatment). Such conditions can cause oxygen depletion and/or create an environment toxic to indigenous populations.
Similarly, treatment of impacted shorelines can also cause adverse affects due to tidal fluctuations and storm water, which flush the microbes and soluble nutrients from the soil and introduce them into the water column.
Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® addresses specifically the issue of application control. Other products tend to disperse rapidly in the water column and cannot be controlled in the same manner achieved by PRP®. Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® is hydrophobic and oleophilic, and is the only biological product that contains and remediates hydrocarbons in a microenvironment on water's surface. Typically, PRP® for bioremediation does not require secondary application, further reducing the potential for algae bloom and other adverse environmental affects associated with other methods.
Once Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® is applied, it repels water and floats. PRP® for bioremediation will maintain its position on the surface of the water, rising and falling with the tide, enhancing the opportunity of the PRP® to come into contact with floating hydrocarbons and those hydrocarbons that have impacted the shoreline. The ability of Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® to flow in and out with the tide enables the product to travel to impenetrable areas where fugitive hydrocarbons are present.
When encapsulation contact is achieved between the hydrocarbon and Petroleum Remediation Product PRP®, the encapsulating wax breaks down and forms a hydrocarbon and wax matrix. Simultaneously, indigenous microbes feed off of the nutrients, initiating the remediation of the hydrocarbons. The matrix will float on the surface of the water creating a perfect microenvironment in which the microbes can perform. The environment created at the surface of the water allows PRP® to obtain moisture from the water and at the same time gain oxygen from the ambient air, facilitating bioremediation.
Since the nutrients and micronutrients are contained in the wax, the possibility of over- stimulation of the water column is minimized. These characteristics set the product apart from liquid-based products when considering application control.
Residual PRP®
Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® that does not have intimate contact with hydrocarbons is, in effect, inert. The inert PRP® will eventually biodegrade and will slowly release the nutrients. Naturally occurring microbes will activate when an oxygen source is present and will survive a short time on the nutrients and wax encapsulating material. With the absence of a food source, the microbes will not survive for extended periods of time.
APPLICATION SCENARIOS
Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® can be used in a variety of ways to control and degrade fugitive hydrocarbons as a first or tertiary response tool in open water, backwater, wetland, near shore scenarios and anywhere water comes into contact with hydrocarbons. PRP® can be allowed to degrade in-situ, recovered mechanically, recycled or relocated for land treatment. BTU value of PRP® is roughly equivalent to #2 diesel or Saudi crude oil.
First Response
Pre-emptive is the best term to explain the advantage of using PRP® bioremediation as a first response tool. Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® can be favorably used to control the impact of hydrocarbons on the shoreline and to float heavy hydrocarbons that typically sink in water.
The application of PRP® as a first response tool will accomplish three very significant benefits:
- The encapsulating wax will form a matrix that will greatly increase the amount of oil that will ultimately be recovered.
- The PRP® matrix will also reduce the impact of the hydrocarbons to the shoreline, vegetation or surface that it may contact due to the encapsulating matrix that is formed.
- PRP® is extremely buoyant and has shown the ability to float hydrocarbons which typically sink in water (e.g. #6 Fuel Oil). These product characteristics support the use of Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® as a first response tool.
Near Shore and Wetlands
These environments are a well-suited application for Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® bioremediation, since labor-intensive techniques and chemicals are not an acceptable means of recovery, due to potential damage to the environment. In-situ burning can also cause adverse environmental affects that outweigh the negative impacts caused by an oil spill. The proximity of sensitive wildlife, structures, or adverse weather conditions can eliminate in-situ burning from consideration.
PRP® is a non-toxic and a 100% natural biological response tool. Its use is favored by most in difficult hard to reach environments where other methods cannot be successful.
The Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® matrix can be left in-place (in-situ) to bioremediate the hydrocarbons, or may be recovered for land bioremediation, land filling or recycling by the RP. Through the use of Petroleum Remediation Product PRP®, the RP is availed to many final cleanup options that would not be possible in the absence of such a product.
Application Rate
Application of the product is a function of several conditions that must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Variations in the physical properties of the spilled product, water temperature, and dispersion affect the quantity of PRP® that should be applied to a given area.
The OSC will direct the response team in determining order of priority for treating affected areas. Areas that need immediate attention should be addressed first. An affected area should be broken down into equal-sized areas and each area "painted"-with Petroleum Remediation Product PRP®. This technique is the key to effectively covering a given area.
A sufficient quantity of PRP® should be applied to ensure containment of spilled oil or other hydrocarbons. Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® should be applied carefully, adjusting the spray angle to minimize break-up. Equipment operators will visually assess the situation for each scenario through observation. Once the operator observes containment of the fugitive oil spill or other hydrocarbons, another location should be selected.
Some benefits of Petroleum Remediation Product PRP® include:
• PRP® is a non-toxic, 100% all natural product
• PRP® is hydrophobic (floats)
• PRP® is oleophilic (attracts oil)
• PRP® minimizes impacts to the environment
• PRP® maximizes hydrocarbon degradation
• PRP® is effective in sensitive areas where labor intensive techniques are unproductive
• PRP® can biodegrade in-situ or be recovered for land bioremediation or land filling
Cost Savings:
• PRP® reduces expense by reducing reclamation costs.
• PRP® allows the R.P to control the disposition of the spilled hydrocarbon.
• PRP® reduces disposal and transportation costs.
• PRP® minimization of waste stream and eliminates long-term landfill liability.
Document update April, 2008
Petroleum Remediation Product PRP is available online at OilSpillRem.com |
