Process of Bioremediation
Last Updated : 21 Mar, 2024
Bioremediation is a type of biotechnical waste management process used to clean polluted water and soil. The process of bioremediation involves the use of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, etc. Various polluted areas such as polluted soil, water, municipal water tanks, sewage water, etc are cleaned through this method. This is an eco-friendly method. In this article, we will cover the process of bioremediation in detail.
Bioremediation indicates the use of biological organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and plants to eliminate or reduce the pollution of a particularly polluted area. It is a biotechnical method to clean the environment in an eco-friendly manner. The microorganisms used in this process utilize the pollutant as their source of energy or food and thus they consume the pollutant and clean our environment. This method is regarded as a more beneficial and cost-effective way than our traditional methods where chemicals were used.
Environmental pollution is very harmful to human beings in all aspects. Air pollution is the cause of various respiratory diseases. Soil or land pollution affects our agricultural sectors. Traditionally, to remove these pollutants various toxic chemicals were used. To reduce the use of such toxic chemicals, bioremediation was introduced as an alternative way.
In this process of bioremediation, biological microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and small plants are used which use the pollutants as their resource and convert the pollutants into non-toxic substances. The microorganisms require a specific atmosphere to start their work. At an optimum temperature, pH and in presence of required moisture, the microorganisms use the pollutants as their resource or food.
They consume the food and to break their food into simpler form they secrete various enzymes. The enzymes convert the pollutants into nutrients. At the end of this process, the pollutants are converted into carbon-dioxide, non toxic acids and water. Thus, the microbes help to eliminate or reduce various pollutants from our environment. In spite of being an eco-friendly and cost-effective process, bioremediation can not destroy all types of pollutants. As an example, bacteria can destroy chlorinated pesticides but they are unable to destroy heavy metals such as lead.
Bioremediation of oil spills is a natural process that uses the power of microorganisms to clean up environmental damage caused by oil contamination. These microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, possess unique metabolic abilities that enable them to break down and digest hydrocarbons found in crude oil. When oil spills occur, these microorganisms multiply and thrive in the presence of the spilled oil, utilizing it as a source of energy and carbon for their growth.
As they metabolize the oil, they transform it into simpler and less harmful compounds, ultimately restoring the affected ecosystem to its natural state. This process of bioremediation not only helps to mitigate the environmental impact of oil spills but also promotes the natural resilience and regeneration of ecosystems.
Bioremediation of soil is a natural process that utilizes microorganisms to break down and degrade contaminants present in soil, restoring its health and fertility. These microorganisms metabolize organic pollutants and convert them into less harmful substances. In the process, they utilize the contaminants as a source of energy and nutrients for their growth and reproduction. This microbial activity is facilitated by optimizing environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture, and oxygen levels to promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms.
As the contaminants are broken down, the soil becomes cleaner and more suitable for supporting plant growth and other ecosystem functions. Bioremediation offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to remediate polluted soils, minimizing the need for disruptive and costly techniques.
Various bioremediation techniques are used to clean the contaminated water and soil. These are mentioned as follows:
Biostimulation
In this process, the growth of microbes or bacteria are stimulated to clean the pollutant. At first, the contaminated water or soil is mixed with specific nutrients and these nutrients stimulate the growth of bacteria or microbes. Now, the large quantity of microbes perform quick cleaning of the contaminants.
Bioaugmentation
In this process, specific cultured microbes are added to the polluted water or soil. These microbes then clean the polluted environment by degrading the pollutants. To treat the municipal wastewater, bioaugmentation is used. To control the growth of microorganisms becomes challenging in this process.
Intrinsic Bioremediation
This method is mainly used to treat underground places such as petroleum tanks. Because, it is difficult to detect any leakage in such underground places. So, using microbes to clean such underground tanks is an efficient method.
Bioremediation is a type of biotechnical process in which microbes are used to clean the contaminated water and soil. Bacteria, fungi, and certain plants are used in this process. The process of bioremediation can be useful for both the large and small polluted areas. Toxic chemicals are not used in this method. It is an eco-friendly, cost-effective way to clean our environment.
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