Research Product

The results from our oil spill bioremediation project have demonstrated convincingly that fertilizers can be applied to oiled beaches to overcome nutrient limitations, thereby enhancing biodegradation of the oil. In Prince William Sound, the natural biodegradation rate of oil on the beaches was found to be quite high, primarily because of small concentrations of ammonia and phosphate in seawater that are introduced into the beach material with each tide. However, the addition of fertilizers was capable of increasing this biodegradation as much as two to three fold above background activity. In addition, the extent of enhanced degradation was such that beaches became visually cleaner and aesthetically improved.