In Situ Biological Remediation of Hydrazine Spills Using Gel Encapsulated Enzymes

Incidents involving hydrazine propellants can pose a potentially serious risk to the environment, as well as to personal health and safety. Hydrazine is a known carcinogen and its uncontrolled release into the environment is a matter of serious concern. Foster-Miller proposes a multicomponent bioremediation system based on enzymes, microbes and growth factors that can be encapsulated and stored in concentrated form in dried biodegradeable polymeric gels and released and activated immediately in an aqueous phase upon application to the contaminated area.The Phase I program focuses on the identification, characterization, and selection of biological materials that will quickly degrade hydrazine and (b) the identification and characterization of biodegradeable polymeric gels with respect to the encapsulation and release of model enzymes and other biologically active materials