Solutions

CARBONZAP

Hydrocarbons

Pollution from hydrocarbon-based products is extremely harmful to the environment, but so are the existing methods of cleaning it up.

Overview

Oil, petrol and other hydrocarbonbased products are extremely damaging to the environment when leaked and can also cause significant human health problems such as cancer, stillbirths, miscarriages and birth defects.

Pollution can range from small oil leaks and airport de-icing procedures to very large spills from wells, tankers and pipelines. More than three million tonnes of oil is estimated to enter the environment each year, with 86% of marine pollution from land sources. Oil leaks in Russia are equivalent to a Deepwater Horizon every two months.

Crude oil contains around 10,000 substances, many of which are corrosive, toxic and damaging to wildlife and ecosystems. Preventative measures for vehicle leaks include OWIs (Oil Water Interceptors), which require costly annual cleaning, while the use of powerful chemical detergents and dispersants for clean-up are damaging for the environment. Contaminated soil and water require removal and incineration by specialist contractors at considerable cost.

How it works

CARBONZAP’s non-pathogenic bacterial compositions digest both long and short chain hydrocarbons, allowing cost-effective elimination of crude oil, diesel and petrol, as well as heavier hydrocarbons such as bitumen. The bacteria break down oil into less harmful fatty acids and carbon dioxide, accelerated by fertilising nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that stimulate the growth of microorganisms. This can be further enhanced through promoting specialisation, optimising carrier media, and developing specifically purposed microorganism communities.

Benefits

This avoids the costly removal and incineration of spills and, as a naturally occurring remediation, is a far more environmentally friendly solution.

This uses naturally occurring bacteria to break down oils, petrol and other hydrocarbons, eliminating the need for costly and caustic chemicals.