Libya being one of the countries with abundant resources of petroleum has considerable petroleum activities and one of them is offshore production of crude oil at El-Bouri field which is situated 120 km North-West of Tripoli. There is always a possibility of contamination of the marine environment by petroleum hydrocarbons in and around El-Bouri field since oil spill accidents are often unavoidable in the offshore oil field development and production processes. Another possibility of contamination of the marine environment by petroleum hydrocarbons by the activities at the oil export terminals. Libya has five oil export terminals. There is ample of evidence in the literature concerning the toxic effects of petroleum hydrocarbons. There are various methods of combating oil pollution in the marine environment. Among them biodegradation of hydrocarbons by using microbes in recent years is becoming most popular and has promising future.
The hydrocarbon degrading microbes are generally more abundant in the areas of chronic pollution than in the pollution free areas. The biodegradation of hydrocarbons depends upon the physical and chemical characteristics of crude oil, weathering conditions, hydrocarbon degradating microbes. The present research will describe the possibility of using indigenous microbes isolated from the Mediterranean environment (from Libyan crude oil export terminals) for degrading Libyan crude oils."Naturally occurring biodegradation" means degradation of organic compounds by indigenous microbes without artificial enhancement. The terms "passive bioremediation" and "intrinsic bioremediation" are also used to describe utilization of naturally occurring biodegradation as a remedial action.
Application of naturally occurring biodegradation as a remediation technique requires that a site be evaluated to ensure site conditions are appropriate and that a monitoring plan be developed. Characterization of a site for evaluation of naturally occurring biodegradation potential should be part of the initial site investigation. Naturally occurring biodegradation is considered to be a remedial action, and its suitability to a given site should be considered during evaluation of possible remedial action options and selection of an overall site remedial action plan.
The hydrocarbon degrading microbes are generally more abundant in the areas of chronic pollution than in the pollution free areas. The biodegradation of hydrocarbons depends upon the physical and chemical characteristics of crude oil, weathering conditions, hydrocarbon degradating microbes. The present research will describe the possibility of using indigenous microbes isolated from the Mediterranean environment (from Libyan crude oil export terminals) for degrading Libyan crude oils."Naturally occurring biodegradation" means degradation of organic compounds by indigenous microbes without artificial enhancement. The terms "passive bioremediation" and "intrinsic bioremediation" are also used to describe utilization of naturally occurring biodegradation as a remedial action.
Application of naturally occurring biodegradation as a remediation technique requires that a site be evaluated to ensure site conditions are appropriate and that a monitoring plan be developed. Characterization of a site for evaluation of naturally occurring biodegradation potential should be part of the initial site investigation. Naturally occurring biodegradation is considered to be a remedial action, and its suitability to a given site should be considered during evaluation of possible remedial action options and selection of an overall site remedial action plan.