Bioremediation Engineering Activity
Rachel Martin
Educator, Mathematics & Science Center
Developed with funding from the American Council of Engineering
Companies of Virginia and the MathScience Innovation Center.
Question
How can an underground pipeline system be used to clean up oil spills?
Grade/Subject
Science 6, Life Science, Physical Science
Virginia Standards of Learning: 6.1, 6.5, 6.9, LS.1, LS.11, PS.1
21st Century
Curriculum
Engineering: Nature of STEM 1.22,1.23; Design and Build 2.22; The
Engineered World 3.32; Civil Engineering 4.44
Background
Environmental engineers are called upon when a solution is needed to a
problem that involves the environment. In this scenario, you will be trying to
efficiently clean up an underground oil spill. Some constraints that many
engineers run into are amount of resources, time, and money. You must find a
way to overcome these constraints while also saving an important ecosystem
from harm.
In the case of an underground pipeline bursting, engineers are faced with
the dilemma of recovering the oil that has dispersed through microscopic
spaces in the soil, while maintaining the diversity of the microorganisms that
inhabit the area. While there are microorganisms already present in the soil,
engineers often add “oil-eating” bacteria to a spill site to accelerate the clean
up process. In order to reach the groundwater level in the soil, pipes are
placed in the spill site and a gradient is created to pull the bacteria through the
small spaces in the soil.
Safety


Safety goggles should be worn at all times.
No harmful chemicals will be used; however students may want to wear
protective gloves.
Bioremediation Engineering Activity
http://www.msinnovation.info
© MathScience Innovation Center (2007)
Materials









Procedure
1 Plastic shoeboxes
1 disposal container for polluted water
White aquarium rocks, or crushed coral (enough to fill ¾ of the
shoebox)
Clear straws
Pipet and bulb or Large capacity syringe (to fit in straw)
Food coloring
Vegetable oil mixed with cocoa powder
Aquarium gravel siphon, or alternative plastic tubing
Water pitcher
1. Student should fill one clear plastic shoebox ½ - ¾ full with white
rocks or coral.
2. Fill the water pitcher, and then add enough water to cover ¾ of the rock
layer. There should not be any free flowing water above the rocks.
3. Add ¼ cup of the oil mixture over the top of the rocks to simulate an oil
spill. Allow time for the oil to reach the groundwater.
4. Challenge: Use the straws, syringe/pipette/siphon, and food coloring (to
act as the bacteria), to safely remove the oil from the area. The bacteria
must be added through a straw directly into the groundwater, and then be
dispersed into as much of the groundwater as possible. Find a way to
remove the contaminated groundwater quickly using the tools provided.
Use the empty plastic shoebox to collect the removed contaminants. Hint:
Think about how you can create a system of flowing water between
pipeline systems. You may “drill” as many wells as needed to build an
efficient system.
5. You may set up this system again as time allows after making
modifications to your plan.
SETUP:
Straw to add bacteria
Rock Layer
Water
Bioremediation Engineering Activity
http://www.msinnovation.info
© MathScience Innovation Center (2007)
1.
Draw and label a picture of your set-up.
Data Analysis/
Results
2. Record the procedure you used to clean up the oil spill.
3. How well did your system work to remove the oil? What modifications
do you suggest for your second trial?
Bioremediation Engineering Activity
http://www.msinnovation.info
© MathScience Innovation Center (2007)
Conclusion /
Questions
1. How could you apply what you learned in this simulation to a real oil
spill?
2. What challenges do environmental engineers have when trying to clean
up an oil spill on land?
3. Why are bacteria used in oil spills?
4. What other organisms or habitats could also help in removing pollutants
from the environment?
Bioremediation Engineering Activity
http://www.msinnovation.info
© MathScience Innovation Center (2007)
References
Mycoremediation
http://www.fungi.com/mycotech/mycova.html
Bacteria are not the only bioremediators in our environment. Read about this
amazing organism and how it helps to clean up the soil environment.
American Academy of Environmental Engineers
http://www.aaee.net/
This website provides in depth information about the careers, and current
research projects of environmental engineers.
Try Engineering
http://tryengineering.org/become.php?major=Environmental+Engineering+T
echnology
This resource provides insight to many fields of engineering. Access to
games, experts in the field, activities, engineering programs and competitions,
and background information on environmental engineering.
MathScience Innovation Center
Information on educational programs available to students, teachers and
school divisions and procedures for registering for programs.
http://msinnovation.info
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Response
and Restoration
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/
The US NOAA ORandR respond to dozens of spills of oil and other
hazardous materials each year, help emergency planners prepare for potential
accidents, create software and other products to help people respond to
hazardous materials accidents, work to find remedies for the environmental
damage caused by hazardous waste sites in coastal areas, and assess injury to
coastal resources from releases of oil and other hazardous materials, and
pursue restoration from those responsible for the harm. A section, Especially
for Kids, includes FAQs, introductions and experiments for students. There
are guided tours on responding to an oil spill, containing a chemical release,
and working with hazardous waste sites.
Bioremediation Engineering Activity
http://www.msinnovation.info
© MathScience Innovation Center (2007)