Objective
The steps involved in oil refining can generate accidental spills resulting in hydrocarbon contaminated areas, reaching as far as the subsoil and ground waters. Rehabilitation by microbial methods has been recognised as novel, cleaner and less expensive than physical-chemical techniques.
However, low or zero oxygen levels has limited the application of aerobic bacteria in the subsoil. Consequently, anaerobes significance became apparent for subsurface bioremediation. Nevertheless, evaluation of anaerobes diversity and assessment of their biotechnological potentials are meagre. Thus, it is proposed to investigate the community diversity and the potential of indigenous subsoil anaerobes for elimination of aromatic hydrocarbons.
On the one hand, it is proposed to analyse the response and evolution of the indigenous population to the presence of hydrocarbons. Within this frame, molecular tools will be used to investigate the subsoil microbial diversity without recurring to cultivation. On the other hand, bacteria with relevance to anaerobic processes are difficult to isolate in laboratory cultures.
Therefore, a special effort will be placed to recover anaerobes with hydrocarbon metabolising abilities. Examining the presence and availability of distinct electron acceptors in the subsoil and the use of site-specific pollutants as carbon sources will assist to formulate media for a successful recovery. Subsequent biochemical and genetic analyses will allow establishing the genes involved in biodegradation.
Once these are characterised, further understanding on the mechanisms behind anaerobic biodegradation will be available helping to design rational strategies to hasten and improve anoxic bioremediation processes.
The project outcomes are expected to significantly increase the scant information on subsoil anaerobes diversity and their biotechnological potential, hence contributing to the advance of scientific knowledge and technological competence in the European Union.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine physiotherapy
- engineering and technology environmental biotechnology bioremediation
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry hydrocarbons
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.