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

摘要

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 [1]. 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 for cleanup [2]. 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 [3]. A Petri dish containing crude petroleum would release a strong odor distinctive of the toxins that made up the fossil fuel. The researchers sprinkled mushroom spores over the Petri dish and let it sit for two weeks in an incubator, and surprise, the petroleum and its smell disappeared. Apparently, the mushrooms consumed the petroleum! Highly contaminated soil in the ground of an old refinery can be cleansed by following a simple recipe. Willow cuttings are planted so the roots dive into the ground and accumulate the degrading contaminants in the timber cells along with the bacteria. At the end of the season, the stems and leaves are burned to leave behind a handful of ashes.