The Mediterranean coastline, stretching 195 kilometers from Rosh Hanikra on the border with Lebanon to the white sandy beaches of Erez that border the Gaza Strip, faces a constant threat of serious oil pollution incidents. This environmental vulnerability comes as researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a porous aerogel designed to capture and break down oil spills in marine and aquatic environments. The material can adsorb approximately 80 to 100 times its own mass in crude oil, fuel, tar, and other hydrocarbons.
Environmental Vulnerability and Occupation's Shadow
The development of this technology emerges against a backdrop of ongoing environmental challenges impacting a coastline that includes the border with the Gaza Strip, a territory under prolonged Israeli military occupation. Prof. Ariel Kushmaro and Dr. Danit Lisa Karsagi Biron of BGU’s Faculty of Engineering led the research in the university’s Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory. Their team created the aerogel from cellulose fibers, which could be sourced from used egg cartons and old newspapers, and enriched it with nitrogen and phosphorus to support oil-degrading bacteria.
A study conducted from 1999 to 2002 previously identified the environmental sensitivity of the Israeli Mediterranean coastline to marine oil spills. This earlier research included GIS sensitivity mapping and an analysis of the environmental vulnerability of shoreline resources. It examined main sources of risk for maritime accidents in the southeastern Mediterranean, developed scenarios for possible oil spill incidents, and analyzed protection priorities for coastal ecosystems in the event of a large spill.
Prof. Kushmaro described how that study detailed the form and structure of the coastline, measured physical features of oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers, and examined meteorological patterns controlling shoreline dynamics. It also assessed the potential for major oil spills and how they might affect natural ecosystems and socio-economic resources along the coastline. The study aimed to determine the relative sensitivity of different shoreline types and prioritize resources for protection after a large oil spill, presenting data for scientific and environmental communities and national authorities.
Despite conclusions from the 1999-2002 study suggesting moderate sensitivity compared to other fragile ecosystems, primarily due to sandy beaches and high exposure to natural cleanup processes, Prof. Kushmaro acknowledged that ecosystems, habitats, shoreline types, and coastal resources along the southeastern Mediterranean coastline remain sensitive to oil spills. The heavy traffic of oil tankers in the eastern Mediterranean, coupled with winds and surface sea current systems, creates a persistent threat to this entire stretch of land, including areas adjacent to the besieged Gaza Strip.
The Science of Cleanup
The newly developed aerogel offers a novel approach to environmental remediation. Researchers developed it using nutrient enrichment, freeze-drying, and pyrolysis in the absence of oxygen, a process designed to prevent combustion. Prof. Kushmaro explained that the aerogel provides a surface for bacteria to attach, bringing them into close contact with both the adsorbed hydrocarbons and the necessary nutrients. This system, he noted, creates conditions that support the microbial breakdown of captured pollutants.
The material floats on water, causing oil to clump together, and the oil reportedly disappears within two to three weeks. If a spill occurs in the middle of the sea, the material can be deployed from a plane. The cellular material itself is biodegradable, and waves, currents, and changing temperatures would not interfere with the cleanup process. The technology is currently undergoing patent recognition through BGN Technologies, Ben-Gurion University’s technology commercialization company. Prof. Kushmaro stated that the team holds a world patent, and Shell, the global British multinational energy and petrochemical company, has already sought information about the research. He also mentioned that the Environmental Protection Ministry is aware of the innovation, but new regulations are needed due to its novelty.
A History of Neglect
The urgency of such environmental solutions is underscored by past incidents. Tar stained nearly 160 kilometers of the coastline, including areas near the Gaza Strip, during the 2021 disaster, with remnants still visible on some beaches. This event was described as one of the most serious ecological disasters in the country’s history. Following the spill, Israeli environmental protection agencies admitted that the government was underfunded to manage such catastrophes and lacked adequate legislation to prevent future occurrences.
Prof. Kushmaro, who earned his doctorate from Tel Aviv University and completed post-doctoral training at the Hebrew University’s Kevin Center and Harvard University, joined BGU in 2001. There, he established a microbial ecology and microbial biotechnology lab focusing on wastewater microbiology, marine microbial ecology, and antimicrobial activity. His team's primary goal is to test the aerogel in a polluted marina, as he observed that "there is oil in all the ports," highlighting the pervasive nature of marine pollution in the region.