Bioremediation is the use of microbes to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater. Microbes are very small organisms, such as bacteria, that live naturally in the environment. Bioremediation stimulates the growth of certain microbes that use contaminants as a source of food and energy.
Types of Bioremediation
1) Bio stimulation. As the name suggests, the bacteria is stimulated to initiate the process.
2) Bio augmentation. At times, there are certain sites where microorganisms are required to extract the contaminants.
3) Intrinsic Bioremediation.
Incineration.
Phytoremediation.
Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are decomposed by micro-organisms (mainly aerobic bacteria) into simpler substances such as carbon dioxide, water and ammonia.
In some cases, specialized microbial cultures are added (bio stimulation) to further enhance biodegradation. Some examples of bioremediation related technologies are phytoremediation, bioventing, bio attenuation, composting (bio piles and windrows), and land farming.
