Objective
Fuel oxygenates were developed in the 1970s as octane enhancers to replace toxic additives like lead, which were phased out of gasoline. Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is by far the most commonly used oxygenate worldwide and in Europe, large amounts of MTBE are manufactured and used each year. As a result of this intense use and its physical-chemical properties, MTBE has become one of the most frequently detected volatile organic compounds in groundwater.
However, ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) is be coming a preferred alternative to MTBE in some countries of Europe due to tax incentives for the application of biomass-derived ethanol which is utilized to produce this compound. Some high polluted sites have been identified in Europe in the last years, particularly in Germany, becoming obvious how important knowledge of fuel oxygenates natural attenuation processes is with regard to cost-effective management of contaminated sites and accomplishing the new EU chemical legislation. The main scientific aim o f the present project is the assessment of in situ biodegradation of fuel oxygenates (MTBE, ETBE) in gasoline-impacted sites. This purpose will be accomplished by the application of innovative methodologies that combine the use of unique biofilm-sampling systems under in situ conditions with advanced stable isotope and labelling techniques.
In this framework, the objectives will be to
(1) prove unequivocally the assimilation of fuel oxygenates with formation of biomass by indigenous microorganisms,
(2) to use this transformation as a quantitative indicator for in situ biodegradation,
(3) identify and compare the microbial community composition with different geochemical conditions and different carbon substrates,
(4) link these processes to active organisms and
(5) elucidate metabolic diversity.
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.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels liquid fuels
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry volatile organic compounds
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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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.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
See other projects for this call
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
LEIPZIG
Germany
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.