Türkiye and Azerbaijan are backing a project, led by Istanbul Technical University (ITU), to develop an alternative method to clean up oil spills and leaks without harming the ecosystem.
Oil pollution, a key environmental issue at present, can be caused by explosions, tanker leaks, and leakage during loading and unloading.
Since traditional cleanups have environmental drawbacks, scientists are exploring methods that utilize nanotechnological and biological approaches. One such approach is known as bioremediation, which uses live microorganisms.
Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR Energy Trade Inc. is backing a joint research project between the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) and Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) that focuses on cleaning oil contamination from seawater and soil.
The project, titled “Cleaning of Seawater and Soil Contaminated with Oil Wastes Using Nanotechnology-Enhanced Bioremediation with Core/Shell Type Magnetic Nanoparticles Loaded with Microorganisms,” is being coordinated by Duygu Agaogullari, lecturer of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at ITU, and Parvin Mammodv, a lecturer at ANAS’ Additives Chemistry Institute.
A team led by Agaogullari is working to combine natural microorganism bioremediation with 1 to 100-nanometer magnetic nanoparticles to efficiently break down oil molecules in seawater, facilitating quicker collection and recycling, and offering a more effective cleanup solution.
Agaogullari said that the harm caused by oil leaks can expand beyond the sea and affect the entire ecosystem.
“Ecologically, oil spills harm many living beings – from plankton, arthropods, and sponges to oysters and crustaceans. It can also damage many other activities like tourism and fishing. Additionally, if oil spills reach soil and beaches, they can negatively affect agricultural activities. Therefore, we see the damage caused by oil not only in the sea but in various parts of the entire ecosystem.”
Agaogullari’s team has developed iron-based nanoparticles – harmless to the environment – that can attach to microorganisms and enhance cleanup efficiency.
The ITU researcher said that the team aims to develop “a system at least four times faster” than current methods for cleaning oil spills, helping quicker ecosystem recovery.
Traditional methods involve using “barriers, vacuum machines, chemicals, or burning,” which can cause environmental harm or slow down the recovery process.
“Our project’s goal is to create a repetitive system using magnetic nanoparticles. That means creating a cyclical and continuous system, instead of using a chemical system once and disposing of it,” she said.
“By loading microorganisms onto magnetic nanoparticles, we aim to form a more natural separation and collect it with a magnet,” she added.
Research shows their system to be four to eight times more effective than standard methods, according to Agaogullari.
She recalled the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill that leaked about 500,000 tons of oil into the sea and its lasting impact on the ecosystem.
Agaogullari underscored the importance of developing alternative solutions and added that they aim to fully validate the system within two years. To do so, she stressed the importance of collaboration between Azerbaijan and Türkiye.
“After introducing the oil-contaminated seawater and soil samples to magnetic nanoparticles, we will conduct numerous tests on their repeated use and efficiency. We will do this in collaboration with the Additives Chemistry Institute in Azerbaijan.”
Gizem Nisa Cebi
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