NEW DELHI: Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed a novel bacterial biofilm technology that can degrade phenanthrene -- a toxic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) commonly found in industrial chemical waste -- and help mitigate industrial oil spills.
PAHs are hazardous organic compounds capable of contaminating soil and water through fossil fuel combustion, industrial discharge, and oil spills.
Traditionally, these are managed by chemical oxidation or soil excavation, which are expensive and often generate secondary pollution.