301
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. A. Murawski et al. (eds.), Deep Oil Spills,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11605-7_18
Chapter 18
Effect of Marine Snow on Microbial Oil
Degradation
Alette A. M. Langenhoff, Shokouh Rahsepar, Justine S. van Eenennaam,
Jagoš R. Radović, Thomas B. P. Oldenburg, Edwin Foekema,
and AlberTinka J. Murk
Abstract In the aftermath of an oil spill, a possible response is the addition of
chemical dispersants to prevent further spreading of the spilled oil on the ocean
surface. The main objective is to enhance the formation of smaller oil droplets by
reducing the interfacial tension between oil and water, thus dispersing the oil into
the water column. The resulting solubilized oil with microdroplets along with the
associated toxic compounds will be swiftly incorporated into the seawater. The formation of smaller oil droplets and the dispersant enhanced solubilized oil will
increase its availability for bacteria and thus the biodegradability. Subsequently, the
number and activity of oil-degrading bacteria increases, and more oil will be
degraded in a shorter period of time (Kessler et al., Science 331:312–315, 2011).
A. A. M. Langenhoff (*) · S. Rahsepar
Wageningen University & Research, Department of Environmental Technology,
Wageningen, The Netherlands
e-mail: Alette.langenhoff@wur.nl; Shokouh.rahsepar@wur.nl
J. S. van Eenennaam
Wageningen University & Research, Department of Environmental Technology,
Wageningen, The Netherlands
Regulatory Affairs Department, Safety Assessment, Charles River Laboratories,
‘s Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
J. R. Radović · T. B. P. Oldenburg
University of Calgary, PRG, Department of Geoscience, Calgary, AB, Canada
e-mail: jagos.radovic@ucalgary.ca
E. Foekema
Wageningen University & Research, Marine Animal Ecology Group,
Wageningen, The Netherlands
Wageningen Marine Research, Den Helder, The Netherlands
e-mail: Edwin.foekema@wur.nl
A. J. Murk
Wageningen University & Research, Marine Animal Ecology Group,
Wageningen, The Netherlands
e-mail: Tinka.murk@wur.nl
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. A. Murawski et al. (eds.), Deep Oil Spills,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11605-7_18
Chapter 18
Effect of Marine Snow on Microbial Oil
Degradation
Alette A. M. Langenhoff, Shokouh Rahsepar, Justine S. van Eenennaam,
Jagoš R. Radović, Thomas B. P. Oldenburg, Edwin Foekema,
and AlberTinka J. Murk
Abstract In the aftermath of an oil spill, a possible response is the addition of
chemical dispersants to prevent further spreading of the spilled oil on the ocean
surface. The main objective is to enhance the formation of smaller oil droplets by
reducing the interfacial tension between oil and water, thus dispersing the oil into
the water column. The resulting solubilized oil with microdroplets along with the
associated toxic compounds will be swiftly incorporated into the seawater. The formation of smaller oil droplets and the dispersant enhanced solubilized oil will
increase its availability for bacteria and thus the biodegradability. Subsequently, the
number and activity of oil-degrading bacteria increases, and more oil will be
degraded in a shorter period of time (Kessler et al., Science 331:312–315, 2011).
A. A. M. Langenhoff (*) · S. Rahsepar
Wageningen University & Research, Department of Environmental Technology,
Wageningen, The Netherlands
e-mail: Alette.langenhoff@wur.nl; Shokouh.rahsepar@wur.nl
J. S. van Eenennaam
Wageningen University & Research, Department of Environmental Technology,
Wageningen, The Netherlands
Regulatory Affairs Department, Safety Assessment, Charles River Laboratories,
‘s Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
J. R. Radović · T. B. P. Oldenburg
University of Calgary, PRG, Department of Geoscience, Calgary, AB, Canada
e-mail: jagos.radovic@ucalgary.ca
E. Foekema
Wageningen University & Research, Marine Animal Ecology Group,
Wageningen, The Netherlands
Wageningen Marine Research, Den Helder, The Netherlands
e-mail: Edwin.foekema@wur.nl
A. J. Murk
Wageningen University & Research, Marine Animal Ecology Group,
Wageningen, The Netherlands
e-mail: Tinka.murk@wur.nl