Team:NU Kazakhstan

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+1000 tonnes

of oil released into the environment as a result of tanker incidents

Oil spills are a major problem

Although the total number of Oil Spill incidents is decreasing each year, previous spills have a compounding negative impact on the environment. Oil pollution is very hazardous to marine flora & fauna, especially when left untreated for a long period of time.

 

Biodiversity of Caspian Sea is under crisis because of oil pollution

Oil spills are a local problem

Kazakhstan has more than 250 oil fields, majority of which are located in the Caspian Sea. It is recognized as independent zoogeographical region due to its high endemism. Oil pollution places endemic organisms of the Caspian Sea under the threat of extinction.

 

 

OIL SPILL RESPONSE

BOOMS AND
SKIMMERS

Effective only in immediate oil-spill management and can recover up to 10% of the oil at a large spill. Cannot be successfully employed under rough sea waves. The use of heavy machinery can inflict damage upon shorelines, SO they should be avoided as much as possible.

DISPERSANTS

When the spilled oil cannot be contained by using booms, the only option left is to accelerate the disintegration of oil. The toxicity of dispersants can affect marine organisms, especially the non-mobile ones such as corals and seagrass. Highly toxic to microzooplankton.

IN-SITU
BURNING

Effective only in immediate oil-spill management and can recover up to 10% of the oil at a large spill. Cannot be successfully employed under rough sea waves. The use of heavy machinery can inflict damage upon shorelines, SO they should be avoided as much as possible.

SHORE
CLEANING

When the spilled oil cannot be contained by using booms, the only option left is to accelerate the disintegration of oil. The toxicity of dispersants can affect marine organisms, especially the non-mobile ones such as corals and seagrass. Highly toxic to microzooplankton.

BIOREMEDIATION

Applying microorganisms is more cost effective and environmentally friendly method of treating oil spills. It is also efficient in long-term management of oil pollution.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa are bacteria carrying both nadE and rhlA/B gene that encode for NAD synthetase and rhamnolipid producing enzymes respectively.

Produced rhamnolipids are biosurfactants that can be used for crude oil bioremediation. However, along with rhamnolipids, P. aeruginosa can produce toxins as well.

Hence, we aim to modify less toxic relative of P. aeruginosa Pseudomonas putida in a way that would allow production of rhamnolipids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTACT

igem@nu.edu.kz

Kabanbay batyr av., 53, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

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