Oil Spill Cleanup: Biological vs. Physical

In this activity, students will compare two methods of oil spill cleanup: biological and physical. Applying both a special blend of oil degrading microbes and a hydrocarbon encapsulating polymer to oil and examining the results, students will draw conclusions with regard to the effectiveness of each approach. The kit includes a specially prepared stained vegetable oil to simulate crude oil, eliminating any of the hazards and associated disposal costs of the real thing while still allowing the students to perform the procedures using real oil. Kit contains enough materials for 15 groups. Teacher’s Manual and Student Study Guide copymasters are included.