To the ordinary man, bioremediation is basically using organic materials to take care of polluted sites. Truth is, they are very correct, but there is a lot that goes into bioremediation than what the eyes can see.
LETS GET A TAD SCIENTIFIC, SHALL WE…
Bioremediation actually means the introduction or microorganisms into an already polluted environment for the purpose of restoring this polluted environment to its original state. These microorganisms introduced into the polluted site actually consume and breakdown the existing environmental pollutants.
It is no news today how that our present environment is experiences degradation as a result most times, of manmade efforts. Much of this degradation can be attributed to the growing production and use of fossil fuels. The fact is, man will never stop his exploration of oil, thereby ensuring that these harmful hydrocarbons keep polluting our environment.
Today when we talk of bioremediation in modern times, we would not fail to mention George Robinson (US Microbics, 2003) partly because of his work along the coast of Santa Babara, California where he used microbes to consume an oil spill in the late 1960’s.
Bioremediation could involve introducing new organisms to the site, or the environmental conditions can be tweaked to enhance degradation rates of indigenous fauna.
Waterways which receive continuous amount of contaminated industrial effluents can be saved to a certain extent when bioremediation is applied to recover brownfields used to prepare these contaminants before discharge. When these untreated contaminants are already present on the ground or the surface of waters, bioremediation can also be applied to check it. This can also curb the effects these pollutants or chemicals have on the human, animal or ecosystem health.
Why I think bioremediation is important
It uses no chemicals and promotes recycling of waste
Waste that has undergone treatment can actually be put to good use again. Bioremediation has an edge of chemical remediation at this point because even when chemicals are used there is still the presence of some toxic chemicals on the waste making it impossible to enter the recycling process. Bioremediation keeps all things organic. Let’s take the water supply for an example, man-made chemicals used to treat water pollutants always find a way to get into the water supply eventually affecting plant, animal and human life.
Classes of Bioremediation
• In-situ – This is a situation where the contaminated waste is treated at the site of pollution. This method reduces or prevents the spread of the contaminant during its displacement and transport
• Ex-situ – Ex situ as the name implies has to do with the treatment of contaminated waste outside the site where it was found. This contaminated waste is moved to a treatment area. It is believed that treating outside the site of contamination helps in controlling and containing the bioremediation products as well as allowing the area which was contaminated to be open for use.
Types of Bioremediation
Phytoremediation – When plants are used to remove contaminants, these plants draw the contaminants into their structures and hold on to them, thus removing them from either soil or water.
Bioventing – This method has to do with the introduction of air into the soil to increase oxygen rates in the waste. Oxygen sensitive substances in the soil are effectively neutralized.
Bioleaching – There are some organisms which have an affinity to heavy metals, when these organisms are introduced, they are drawn to heavy metals and other contaminants, and absorb them.
Bioreactor – the use of specially designed containers to hold the waste while bioremediation occurs
Bioaugmentation – Microbes and organisms are added to strengthen the waste to allow them take over and decontaminate the area
Rhizofiltration – The removal of metals in water by plants
Amongst many others
The success of microbial remediation is hinged of the following factors
In conclusion, we all have a part to play in ensuring the safety of our environment. Everyday man comes up with more ways to better his life at the expense of the environment and this is not so wise, especially when there are no checks to ensure that the environment can and will be taken care off.
More bioremediation techniques should be embraced as this ensures that our environment is restored without side effects.
