Few people have heard about bioremediation and those who have heard of it, very few people know what it actually is. Bioremediation refers to the process of using naturally occurring microorganisms or other forms of life to consume and break down environmental pollutants in order to clean up polluted sites, especially drinking water. Some examples of bioremediation are oil spill cleanups or contaminated groundwater. The bioremediation process is a biological process that stimulates helpful microorganisms to use harmful contaminants as their source of food and energy. Certain microorganisms eat toxic chemicals and pathogens, digesting them and eliminating them through changing their composition into harmless gases like ethane and carbon dioxide. Some contaminated soil and water conditions already have the right counter-microbes. Here, human intervention can speed up natural remediation by boosting microbial action.
To get more in-depth and specific about bioremediation: the process can involve aerobic or anaerobic microorganisms. Aerobic is the presence of oxygen needed for microbial development. While anaerobic is the absence or reduction of oxygen in water or soil. There are also three kinds of bioremediation, in situ which is used land treatment for soil and groundwater, biofiltration of the air, and bioreactors, predominantly involved in water treatment. In situ bioremediation is done directly at the site of the contamination, therefore being the best option due to the reduced change of dangerous transport or spillage.
Bioremediation works for organic pathogens, arsenic, fluoride, nitrate, volatile organic compounds, metals, and many other pollutants like ammonia and phosphates. It’s effective for cleaning insecticides and herbicides, as well as saltwater intrusion into aquifers. The major benefits of bioremediation are: completely natural process with almost no harmful side effects, carried out in situ for most applications with no dangerous transport, quick turnaround time to make soil and water usage, equipment needed except for specialized pieces, positive public acceptance due to organic process and little disturbance, cost-effective to maintain and economical to input, lowers liability, as contaminants are a less likely escape, little energy consumed compared to incineration and landfilling, and high acceptance from regulatory authorities.