Oleophilic bacteria

Oil-laden seaweed was removed from the beaches with rakes and front-end loaders. Farm equipment was used to plow and harrow the sand, making it more susceptible to wave and bacterial action. Prior to harrowing, chemical fertilizers and oleophilic bacteria were applied to the sand. 

Other Properties. Polyester fibers have good resistance to uv radiation although prolonged exposure weakens the fibers (47,51). PET is not affected by iasects or microorganisms and can be designed to kill bacteria by the iacorporation of antimicrobial agents (19). The oleophilic surface of PET fibers attracts and holds oils. Other PET fiber properties can be found ia the Hterature (47,49). 

Laboratory investigations conducted shortly after the spill confirmed earlier studies that showed that N and P were limiting, and that almost all of the alkanes in the Alaskan oil and an appreciable amount of the PAHs had been metabolized in 6 weeks with the addition of inorganic salts or an oleophilic fertilizer containing N and P. Field tests confirmed the abundance of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria. Specific N and P fertilizers were supplemented to the beaches because they would remain associated with the oil. The oleophilic fertilizer was a liquid containing urea in oleic acid as the N source and tri(aureth-4)-phosphate as the P source. Within 2 weeks, differences in the quantities of oil were visually evident between fertilizer-treated and untreated beaches, and subsequent quantitative measurements revealed that 60-70% of the oil had been degraded within 16 months. 

---