The Effectiveness of Enzymes as Degradation Agents in Motor Oil

Overview

Objectives/Goals One day after a rain I noticed motor oil run-off from cars in the street drain. I wondered if there was a way to clean up the pollution without hurting the environment even more. I found a product on the internet created to clean motor oil stains. The cleaner contained bromelain, papain, and various other types of enzymes and chemicals. I decided to design experiments using bromelain and papain enzymes to break down motor oil. The goal of my project was to see whether bromelain or papain enzymes were effective in degrading motor oil on the water#s surface or in a shore environment. I believed both would work, and that bromelain would be more effective than papain. I also believed that in the #shore# tests, the soil microbes might also help with cleanup. Methods/Materials I carried out this project by using Chevron motor oil, distilled water, and samples of moist soil in small, clear cups. I performed four trials of the experiment, each with 20 samples: bromelain in a shore environment, papain in a shore environment, bromelain on water#s surface, and papain on water#s surface. I recorded the weight of the samples. I assessed the effectiveness of the degradation process by calculating the differences between the beginning weight measurements and the ending weight measurements. Biodegradation, a decay process performed by organisms, diluted the oil into carbon dioxide and water (water soluble compounds), causing the weight loss. Results When papain was tested on the water#s surface, the weight difference was 3.50%. When bromelain was tested on the water#s surface, the weight difference was 0.70%. In the shore environment simulations, the papain mixtures had a weight difference of 18.74%. The bromelain mixtures in the shore environment simulations had a weight difference of 2.40%. My final results showed a significant difference in the effectiveness of the enzymes in the two environments. The results also showed papain to be much more effective in degrading oil. Conclusions/Discussion My findings showed that the papain enzymes were more effective in degrading the oil in both environments. The results also showed that both kinds of enzymes were more effective in the soil environment. Using papain enzyme as an agent of degradation appeared to be an effective, nontoxic method for cleaning up motor oil.

Competition history

• CSEF 2006 Environmental Engineering · Entry J0813

Resources

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