Bioremediation

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Bioremediation: Nature Doing Its Own Dirty Work.
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To first understand the concept of in situ bio-remediation, one must first understand the definition of the words. "In situ” means in place, “bio” means living organisms and “remediate" means to solve a problem. Thus, in situ bioremediation is the application of biological treatment to the cleanup of hazardous chemicals in the soil and surface or subsurface waters. In the many forms of bioremediation, microorganisms are utilized and managed through the control of environmental factors to reduce environmental pollution (Mellor, Landin, et al).
In a non-polluted environment, bacteria, fungi, protists, and other microorganisms are constantly at work breaking down organic matter. In the circumstance of a pollutant or contaminant being introduced, some of the microorganisms would die, while others capable of eating the organic pollution would survive. Bioremediation works by providing these pollution-eating organisms with fertilizer, oxygen, and other conditions that encourage their rapid growth. These organisms would then be able to break down the organic pollutant at a faster rate. Bioremediation is often used to help clean up oil spills, land fills, and many other contaminated sites (Chapelle).
Bioremediation of a contaminated site typically works in one of two ways. In the previous case, ways are found to speed up the growth of whatever pollution-eating microbes might already be living at the contaminated site. In the second, less common case, specialized microbes are added to degrade the contaminants.
Bioremediation provides a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation processes that occur in nature. Depending on the site and its contaminants, bioremediation may be safer and less expensive than alternative solutions such as incineration or land filling of the contaminated materials. It also has the advantage of treating the contam...