Highway crews in the UK are using micro-organisms that can transform fuel spills into water within minutes, rendering it non-flammable.
A local council deals with between 80 to 100 spills a year, traditionally utilising sand and absorbent materials to mop up, but such methods can close roads for three to six hours at a time.
Fuel Spill Digester (FSD) turns hazardous fuel into water and - depending on the size of the spillage - can open the road within an hour. The substance is already used on some filling station forecourts, but Essex County Council is among the first local authorities to use it on its road
Once the micro-organisms are poured on the fuel, enzymes break down the fuel's harmful components while bacteria digest them.
This solution has been described as an eco-friendly alternative that eliminates the need to throw away contaminated absorbents. It is also cheaper than traditional methods, the council says.
Full story Fuel-eating bacteria used to clean up spills on Essex roads - BBC News
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