Composition and methods of use
Provided herein are compositions and methods that can remove, metabolize, or degrade a hydrocarbon in an area that is contaminated by hydrocarbons. Methods for bioremediation of an area such as an area of land, a body of water, or a shoreline that are contaminated by a hydrocarbon, such as from a crude oil spill are also described. The compositions and methods described herein can be used on natural flora and fauna as well as manmade materials that are contaminated by a hydrocarbon.
1. A method for promoting bioremediation in an area contaminated by a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of crude oil, refined oil, and petroleum products comprising:
(a) providing an amount of a composition comprising
(i) a microbial component comprising a consortium of microbes comprising the bacteria Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus pumilus, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluororescens, Lactobacillus acidophilus , and L. Salivarius bifidum;
(ii) an enzymatic component;
(iii) an emulsifying component; and
(iv) a nutritive component;
(b) applying an amount of the composition to at least a portion of the area contaminated by the hydrocarbon, wherein applying is performed under condition that allow the composition to promote in situ bioremediation.
2. The method of either claim 1 , wherein the contaminated area is a body of water selected from seawater, fresh water, brackish water, wetland, swamp, or ice.
3. The method of either claim 1 , wherein the contaminated area is a land mass.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contaminated area comprises a natural or man-made solid surface selected from the group consisting of plants, rocks, soils, metals, plastics, rubber, woven fiber, and concrete.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the contaminated area comprises a hydrocarbon holding tank, hydrocarbon pipeline, hydrocarbon tank liner, hydrocarbon processing or refining equipment, or a hydrocarbon transport vessel.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the composition further comprises a substrate component.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises by weight percent of the total weight of the composition: about 5-75% microbial component; about 5-25% enzymatic component; about 5-20% emulsifying component; and about 5-30% nutritive component.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the composition further comprises about 5-30% of a substrate component.
9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the composition further comprises about 5-30% water.
10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises a weight percent of the microbial component from about 40% to about 60%.
11. The method of claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises a ratio of the amount of the microbial component to the amount of enzymatic component from about 1:1 to about 10:1.
12. The method of claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises a ratio of the amount of the microbial component to the amount of combined nutritive and emulsifying components is about 1:1 to about 7:1.
13. The method of claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises the microbial, enzymatic, and combined nutritive and emulsifying components in relative amounts (by weight) of about 5:1:2.5, respectively.
14. A method for cleaning hydrocarbons from a surface that is contaminated by hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of crude oil, refined oil, and petroleum products comprising:
(a) providing an amount of a composition comprising
(i) a microbial component comprising a consortium of microbes comprising the bacteria Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus pumilus, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluororescens, Lactobacillus acidophilus , and L. Salivarius bifidum;
(ii) an enzymatic component;
(iii) an emulsifying component; and
(iv) a nutritive component;
(b) applying an amount of the composition to at least a portion of the surface contaminated by hydrocarbons, wherein the applying is performed under conditions that allow for the hydrocarbons to be removed.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the contaminated area comprises a natural or man-made surface selected from the group consisting of animals, plants, rocks, soils, metals, plastics, rubber, woven fiber, and concrete.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises a substrate component.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the composition comprises by weight percent of the total weight of the composition: about 5-75% microbial component; about 5-25% enzymatic component; about 5-20% emulsifying component; and about 5-30% nutritive component.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises about 5-30% of a substrate component.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises about 5-30% water.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the composition comprises a weight percent of the microbial component from about 40% to about 60%.
21. The method of claim 14 , wherein the composition comprises a ratio of the amount of the microbial component to the amount of enzymatic component from about 1:1 to about 10:1.
22. The method of claim 14 , wherein the composition comprises a ratio of the amount of the microbial component to the amount of combined nutritive and emulsifying components is about 1:1 to about 7:1.
23. The method of claim 14 , wherein the composition comprises the microbial, enzymatic, and combined nutritive and emulsifying components in relative amounts (by weight) of about 5:1:2.5, respectively.