The Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies

Working with CICOES was an incredible experience for me. I had the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Jodi Young and her lab to investigate the biosurfactant activity of mixed microalgal and bacterial samples extracted from Arctic sea ice. As the Arctic becomes more accessible the threat of oil spills has increased. Synthetic dispersants are frequently employed to clean up spills, but there are issues with them because they are toxic, slow to breakdown, and it is unclear how they work in the icy, frigid Arctic Ocean. The microbial ecosystem of the Arctic may produce biosurfactants that have the advantage of being more environmentally friendly and tailored for Arctic settings than manufactured dispersants. These biosurfactants are a class of molecules known as amphiphilic compounds, which are made up of a polar (hydrophilic) head and a nonpolar (hydrophobic) tail. These substances have a special structure that makes them surface, interfacial, tension reducers. As water molecules are cohesive, surface tension can be described as the quality of a liquid’s surface that permits it to resist an external force.

The findings suggest that some sea ice algae cultures may be able to produce larger amounts of biosurfactants, which can be used to remove oil residue from spills and reduce surface and interfacial tension. Cultures with faster rates of cell development or larger biomass could often produce more EPS. This enables us to focus on samples that will have higher levels of biosurfactant activity. Further investigation will be conducted on samples that yield positive results in order to describe the biosurfactant-producing circumstances and isolate the microbe responsible. While preventing oil spills is of utmost importance, using more bio-based dispersants to remediate oil spills at sea should reduce the potential harm that synthetic chemical dispersants may have to the ecosystem. The selection of dispersants that accelerate the pace of oil spill biodegradation by populations of oil-degrading microorganisms is crucial.

I developed many useful skills and new confidence during my amazing research experience. Along the road, in addition to picking up new skills, I met so many incredible people. Meeting all of the other interns was a genuine pleasure. I am grateful for the support of CICOES and the Young Lab for giving me such a wonderful internship this summer.

Project introduction

Research poster