Background and the Problem

Organic substances derived from soil are what constitute the liquid known as

oil, and nearly one-third of the world's total primary energy comes from this simple

fuel. Industries worldwide have relied on oil as their main source of power from the

mid-1950s onward for heating purposes at home along with supplying both planes

and cars with necessary fuel, and the existence of the industrialized world depends on

it.

As oil production increased, several materials used for carrying and

manufacturing oil were utilized. The oil tanker is a good example of a vessel that

performs various tasks. It transports oil, distributes fuel to ships and power plants,

and stores petroleum goods. However, it has unfavorable implications, such as oil

leaks. The discharge of petroleum into any body of water is referred to as an oil spill.

In the 1960s, oil spills in the ocean became a serious environmental concern. Oil spills

occur as a result of accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, drilling

rigs, and storage facilities. Oil spills are also considered pollution since they harm and

contaminate aquatic life as well as oil transit channels. They are most frequent in the

maritime environment, but they can also be found on land.

The Philippines' history is filled with incidents involving oil spills, and one event

that has remained significant is the Guimaras oil spill, which occurred in 2006. About

15 years ago today, on August 11, 2006, the MT Solar I tanker sank off the coast of

Guimaras Island, located in the central Philippines, carrying more than 2 million liters

—roughly five hundred sixty thousand gallons—of bunker oil. As a result of this

sinking incident, a massive oil spill ensued that affected waters and coastlines

throughout Guimaras and neighboring provinces.

This research focuses on aiding the oil spillage crisis by removing oil from the

water's surface and dispersing biological agents in the water. It aims to provide a

soluti to the oil leak by utilizing a newly discovered robotic material that employs

bioremediation agents. The scope of this research includes agricultural workers,

community, economy, and future researchers

Proposed Solution

Oil spills mostly harm fisheries and mariculture resources. It may also have an

impact on our tourism industry and penetrate our economy. An Automated Oil-Spill

Eliminator Using Bioremediation Agents with Onsite Oil Spill Evaluator is proposed as

a material for a solution to this problem. This robotic material intends to assess the

amount of the oil spill, collect or remove oil from the water's surface, and disseminate

biological agents in the water.

An automated oil-spill eliminator utilizing bioremediation agents with an onsite

oil spill evaluator is a concept that combines two key components: bioremediation

agents and an onsite evaluation system.

Bioremediation is the process of decomposing, converting, or eliminating toxins

from the environment using living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, or plants. It is a

low-cost and environmentally friendly means of cleaning up pollutants such as oil

spills, chemical spills, and soil pollution. Microbial bioremediation employs the aerobic

and anaerobic capabilities of diverse bacteria to respire and ferment substances,

neutral pH levels, are more water soluble, and are less reactive molecularly.

According to Delille (2002), A field study was conducted in February 1996 in

The Grande Terre, Kerguelen Archipelago, to determine the long-term effects of

bioremediation agents on the biodegradation rate and toxicity of oil residues under

severe subantarctic conditions. 10 experimental plots were settled firmly into sediment

and treated with bioremediation agents. Biodegradation within treated spots was

faster than within the untreated ones and appeared almost complete after 6 months.

Interstitial water collected below the oily residues presented no toxicity, but a high

toxicity signal appeared for all oiled sand samples. As a conclusion, it is clear that the

microbial response was rapid and efficient in spite of the severe weather conditions,

and the rate of degradation was improved in presence of bioremediation agents.

Visual evaluations of different hues of the oil slick are the most popular

approach to estimate oil spill thickness. Crude oil's hue changes from black or brown

to an iridescent or silver sheen as it spreads and thins.

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