BIOREMEDIATION

 BIOREMEDIATION is curing the polluted soil, air, or water using living organisms. It is eradicating the pollutants. It is a practical application of biotechnology in ecology. 

The basis of strategies used for bioremediation, it is basically two types: 

The in situ bioremediation

The ex-situ bioremediation

The in situ bioremediation

It is eradicating pollutants at the site of pollution. In situ bioremediation is require different strategies such as

Bioventing

Biosparging

Percolation

Air sparging

Pump and treat

Bio-slurping

Bioremediation eradicates pollutants from the environment. Microorganisms are used for this purpose. The microorganisms convert pollutants into CO2 and H2O or biomass. The pollutants are degraded to non-harmful molecules. The degradation of pollutants requires oxygen. Some ions facilitate the metabolism of pollutants. Supplying these nutrients to the site of the pollution is called bio stimulating. Improving the strain of microorganisms for better metabolism of pollutants is done with the help of Biotechnology.

Bioventing

It is bioremediating the underground water. Microorganisms present at the site can eradicate the pollutants from the underground water. But their action is insufficient. To effectively eradicate the impurities oxygen is required by the microorganisms. Oxygen is supplied to the polluted site by creating a vacuum.  A well is dug on the site of action. The vacuum is created by using a pump and fans. Air passes through the vent and fastens the aerobic metabolism of the pollutants.

Biosparging/ Air sparging

This is just the opposite of bioventing. In sparging air is pumped through pipes. This aerobic facilitates metabolism. 

Pump and treat

It is pumping the groundwater and then treating it.

Bio-slurping

It is vacuum enhanced dewatering technique for hydrocarbon-contaminated sites. Water is sucked through a vacuum pipe and treated.

Bioslurping is the combination of both bioventing and free product recovery. Here the pollutants belong to two different categories. It is used to treat petroleum and other hydrocarbons impurities in groundwater.

Ex-situ bioremediation

Ex-situ bioremediation is treating the polluted soil or water away from the site of pollution. It involves the transportation of soil/water at the site of treatment. The special typeS of plants are established for the treatment of polluted soil or water.

Ex-situ bioremediation includes land farming, compost piles, and irrigation, piles.

Land farming

It is the method of treatment for contaminated soil. It utilizes volatilizing and treatment of the soil using microorganisms. Contaminated soil is extracted and spread on an open farm. The volatile pollutants are vaporized and other substances are treated with the help of microorganisms. 

Compost piles and irrigation 

It is remediating the polluted soil by adding manure or increasing air circulation by adding wood filings. Water holding capacity is increased in the contaminated soil. Irrigation of contaminated soil increases the microbial bioremediation of contaminated soil.

Biopiles 

It may be combining phytoremediation and microbial bioremediation. The contaminated soil is treated by this method. Biopiles involve engineering too. It involves irrigation, aeration, and adding manures to the contaminated soil. Biopiles are made on a farm of non-contaminated soil. The two soils are separated with the help of thick polyethylene. Aeration is done with the help of pipes. Microbes are mixed in the soil. Alginate beads are added for bioremediation. Plants are used to treat the uppermost layer.