These Bacteria Could Nosh Through Freshwater Oil Spills
Bacteria that can consume oil or fuel have been used to help clean up spills in the ocean, but their use in fresh water has been limited by a lack of research. Steve Techtmann (BioSci) and his students have set out to change that, studying colonies of bacteria in the Straits of Mackinac to determine what conditions they need to thrive.
The results of Techtmann and his students’ study are published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research. But, since both oil and fuel are regularly transported by ship and near lakes and rivers, this discovery has important implications for freshwater contaminant spills across the world. Understanding what happens to oil when it’s released in water can help emergency responders and government react quickly and more effectively.
Read the full story on mtu.edu/news.