Recent Advances of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Sensors - From Environmental to Biotechnology Applications

Environmental biotechnology aims at accelerating the biodegradation of petroleum contaminated soils. It was demonstrated just six years ago that a consortium selected using the combined molecular-stepwise discriminated function analysis approach was more effective at degrading lubricant in contaminated sand than the single cultured isolates. Agro-technical methods next involved tilling for maximum oxygen exposure, watering, nutrient application, biopile addition to attenuate the petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) content, and phytoremediation treatments forcleanup.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Sensors

In the experiments described, petroleum contamination of soils was simulated under field conditions, the remedial treatments were then utilized for cleanup. Analysis of soil parameters after a six-week study period showed an increase in total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) counts across all the treatments, with THB counts increasing with increment in soil nutrient level and initial concentration of the contaminant. Last year, “petroleum-eating mushrooms” broke new ground in environmental genomics. A Petri dish containing crude petroleum would release a strong odor distinctive of the toxins that made up the fossil fuel.  Read more....................

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