...the use of biological systems and bioremediation to degrade, modify, move, transform or sequester environmental contaminants. Traditional methods of remediation include chemical and physical processing and are often plagued with problems such as the creation of toxic bi-products and environmental damage. Bioremediation of a site offers the advantages of lower costs, environmental soundness, insitu or exsitu solutions, higher aesthetics, and increased public acceptance. The following will focus on how microorganisms can be used and manipulated to remediate various sites of environmental contaminants. Bioremediation Definition Bioremediation is the use of microbes, fungi or plants to remove toxic contaminants from a site. This can be accomplished in situ or ex situ. In situ bioremediation involves remediating the contaminant at the site of contamination. In situ remediation requires extensive monitoring to ensure the success of the remediation effort and to control environmental impacts. Ex situ remediation involves removing the contaminants from the site and treating them at a processing location in a bioreactor. While this method may be more financially and environmentally costly, it allows more control over the remediation process. This includes setting growth conditions in the reactor and choosing foreign or engineered microbes that may be more efficient at remediating than native organisms. Advantages Interest in bioremediation has increased in recent years as...
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...Bioremediation Methodologies Summer Teeters COM/172 June 23, 2014 Sherry Howard Salois Bioremediation Methodologies What is bioremediation? According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Science (2008), bioremediation is any process that purifies an environment polluted by organic or inorganic contaminants with the utilization of microorganisms or other such creatures. Intensive industrialization and inadequate disposal of organic and inorganic compounds have brought about long-term persistent sources of contamination of our environment. This is a major environmental, policy and health issue facing numerous countries today. Current methods for remediation of polluted environments incorporate chemical and physical remediation, incineration and bioremediation. These conventional physicochemical methodologies are for the most part costly and the remediation process is frequently incomplete. However, since its first commercialized use in the 1970s, experts in the environmental field claim that bioremediation has proven itself to be an economically viable and socially acceptable process to remove hazardous wastes from our environment (Cummings, 2010). In the ever-growing bioremediation field, recent advancements in technology have helped develop new methods of removing contaminants from soil more efficiently and cost effectively. The three primary methods of bioremediation incorporate the utilization of microbes, plants and enzymatic remediation. Every one of these three methods...
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...Anaerobic bioremediation of groundwater contaminated by chloroethenes Introduction Chloroethenes, such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) are one of the contaminants in soil and groundwater which is a significant problem domestically and internationally. Without extracting these contaminants from the ground, the in-situ treatment which directly degrades contaminants in soil or groundwater is now closely watched as an economical remediation technique. Especially, the in-situ bioremediation which degrades contaminants in-situ by activities of microbes is a safer and more economical technique than the physicochemical one and is being developed for practical application. This paper describes that anaerobic bioremediation which cleans up soil and groundwater contaminated by chloroethene such as TCE in-situ by anaerobic bacteria. 1. Degradative mechanism Anaerobic bioremediation is a remediation technique which injects organics, which become electron donors, together with nutrient salts such as nitrogen and phosphorus into groundwater and degrades contaminants by anaerobic bacteria. It is known that PCE and TCE are dechlorinated reductively by anaerobic bacteria and degraded into dichloroethylene (DCE), vinyl chloride (VC), ethylene and likewise, ethane (Fig. 1). Various types of anaerobic bacteria can degrade not only PCE and TCE but also cis-1,2-DCE. Its speed of degradation is relatively fast. On the other hand, by using cis-1,2- DCE and...
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...Bioremediation Contents I. Introduction II. History of Bioremediation 1. ‘Courtship’ Period (Pre-1989) 2. ‘Honeymoon’ Period (1989-1991) 3. ‘Establishment’ Period (since 1992) III. The Biological and Chemical Processes of Bioremediation 1. Biodegradation a. Biological Process b. Degrading Species c. Chemical Process d. Need for Bioremediation 2. Bioremediation a. Seeding with Microbial Cultures b. Environmental Modification IV. Recent Applications of Bioremediation Techniques and their Effectiveness 1. Amoco Cadiz 2. Exxon Valdez 3. Mega Borg 4. Apex Barges 5. Arabian Gulf War V. Conclusion Bibliography Bioremediation Methods for Oil Spills Abstract. The increasing number of marine oil spills asks for effective solutions for the environment. Bioremediation techniques have become a major mechanism for removing oil residues on the affected shorelines. Among the different techniques to enhance natural biodegradation by indigenous microorganisms, seeding of new bacteria and fertilizing the indigenous populations have attracted the most interest. The application of nutrients as nitrogen and phosphorus in the form of fertilizers have shown to be most effective in accelerating the biodegradation process and at the same time to be environmentally safe. I. Introduction Since the freighter Pallas caused the worst oil pollution of the tidel shallows in the North Sea last November, thousands of sea birds and probably...
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...Bioremediation is the use of microorganism metabolism to remove pollutants. Technologies can be generally classified as in situ or ex situ. In situ bioremediation involves treating the contaminated material at the site, while ex situ involves the removal of the contaminated material to be treated elsewhere. Some examples of bioremediation technologies are phytoremediation, bioventing, bioleaching, landfarming, bioreactor, composting, bioaugmentation, rhizofiltration, and biostimulation. Bioremediation can occur on its own (natural attenuation or intrinsic bioremediation) or can be spurred on via the addition of fertilizers to increase the bioavailability within the medium (biostimulation). Recent advancements have also proven successful via the addition of matched microbe strains to the medium to enhance the resident microbe population's ability to break down contaminants. Microorganisms used to perform the function of bioremediation are known as bioremediators.[1] Not all contaminants, however, are easily treated by bioremediation using microorganisms. For example, heavy metals such as cadmium and lead are not readily absorbed or captured by organisms. The assimilation of metals such as mercury into the food chain may worsen matters. Phytoremediation is useful in these circumstances because natural plants or transgenic plants are able to bioaccumulate these toxins in their above-ground parts, which are then harvested for removal.[2] The heavy metals in the harvested biomass...
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...to biodiversity has brought public attention to this problem. Bioremediation is a promising approach for recovery of environmental sites contaminated with crude oil and other hydrocarbons. Many microorganisms have been identified to possess hydrocarbon degradation potential. This review covers an overview of common hydrocarbon pollutants, microbes known as hydrocarbon degraders, major pathways and enzymes involved therein, factors affecting hydrocarbon degradation, and various approaches employed to exploit degrading capacity of microbes for remedial purpose. In addition to making use of inherent catabolic ability of degrader populations, metabolic engineering can be of considerable value in dealing with the problem of hydrocarbon contamination. Keywords: Bioremediation, Oxygenase, Biomagnification, Cometabolism, Consortium, Biosurfactant. Introduction Hydrocarbon (HC) group of compounds consist of hydrogen and carbon in their structure. As petrochemical industries are flourishing worldwide, HC contamination has become one of the major environmental problems faced globally. Environment is particularly being contaminated with accidental releases of petroleum products. Some of the HC compounds can prove carcinogenic and neurotoxic to different life forms. Bioremediation is a promising approach for the treatment of HC contaminated locations as it is cost effective and can lead to complete mineralization. Bioremediation strategy exploits the metabolic pathways of living organisms...
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...SOIL ECOLOGY AND BIOREMIDIATION Faculty of Engineering and Architecture CIVE 652-Environmental biotechnology By: Contents INTRODUCTION 3 SOIL MICROORGANISMS 3 Bacteria and Actinomycetes 3 Protozoa 3 Algae 4 Fungi 4 Macrofauna and Mesofauna 4 SOIL UNDER OXIC AND ANOXIC CONDITIONS 4 SOIL CYCLES 5 Carbon Cycle 5 Nitrogen Cycle 6 Sulfur Cycle 7 SOIL POLLUTION 7 Main Causes of Soil Pollution: 7 Main Effects of Soil Pollution: 7 SOIL BIOREMEDIATION 8 EX SITU REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 8 EX SITU NON-BIOLOGICAL REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 9 1) Ex situ thermal processes 9 2) Ex situ chemical/physical remediation ( Soil scrubbing ) 9 EX SITU BIOLOGICAL REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 9 1) Composting 10 2) Land farming 11 3)Biopiling ( Heap technique) 12 4) Bioslurry reactor 13 IN SITU REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 13 IN SITU BIOLOGICAL REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 14 1) Bioventing 14 2) Biosparging 15 3) Bioaugmentation: 15 4)Biostimulation 15 4) Bioslurping : 16 5) Phytoremediation 16 IN SITU NON-BIOLOGICAL REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES 16 1) In situ thermal processes 16 2) In situ chemical/physical process: Pump and treat processes 16 INFLUENCING FACTORS 16 CONCLUSION 17 Table of figures: Figure 1. Soil microorganisms pie chart 3 Figure 2. Acquisition of phosphate by Mycorrhizal roots………………………………...3 Figure 3. Mycorrhizal roots……………………………………………………………….4 Figure 4. Carbon Cycle 5 Figure 5. Nitrogen Cycle 6 Figure...
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...pollutant such as oil contaminated this environment? 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 correspondingly faster rate. In fact, bioremediation is often used to help clean up oil spills. Bioremediation of a contaminated site typically works in one of two ways. In the case described above, ways are found to enhance the growth of whatever pollution-eating microbes might already be living at the contaminated site. In the second, specialized microbes are added to degrade the contaminants. Bioremediation provides a good cleanup strategy for some types of pollution, but as you might expect, it will not work for all. For example, bioremediation may not provide a feasible strategy at sites with high concentrations of chemicals that are toxic to most microorganisms. These chemicals include metals such as cadmium or lead, and salts such as sodium chloride. Nonetheless, 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...
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...BACKGROUND P&C, Inc (PC) operations occasionally result in contaminated soil at the company’s US based factories. PC company policy allows contamination cleanup when required by environmental legislation. The company also needs to install smoke filtering systems before the law is instituted early next year. PC is concerned with the financial accounting treatment for two environmental issues: (a) environmental cleanup, and (b) smoke filter installation for year 20x2. Both issues, if not resolved, could lead to legal action against PC if not followed by a prescribed date. The Company needs to determine if the contaminated soil and smoke filter requirement should be disclosed on the financial statements as an asset retirement obligation, loss contingency, or an environmental obligation. APPLICABLE AUTHORITATIVE LITERATURE FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 410 Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 450 Contingencies DISCUSSION OF ALTERNATIVES The following section will address the alternative treatments accounting for both the remedial action and smoke filtration system under US GAAP. Recording both issues as a loss contingency will be discussed first, followed by soil contamination as environmental remediation, then applying the asset retirement obligation treatment for pollution from normal operations. Alternative 1: Contaminated Soil and Smoke Filter Disclose both environmental issues...
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...Marco Crespo Professor Joyce Martin En12 07 February, 2014 Phytoremediation: Seeing Through a Beneficial Solution An accident happened on April 26, 1986, when a unexpected surge of power during a system test destroyed unit 4 of the nuclear power station at Chernobyl in Ukraine, former Soviet Union. A devastating amount of radioactive material was released into the environment. 30 kilometres around the plant around the plant was closed after the accident. About one hundred fifteen thousand people were evacuated around 1986 and in the following years, about two hundred thousand more were also forced to vacate. Sadly, the problem did not end there. Three years after the incident, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assessed the situation around the Chernobyl. Toxic metals and radioactive emission like iodine, cesium-137, plutonium and strontium were found in the plants, soil and even animals. Ever since 1991, the Canadian Nuclear Association also noted that there is a sudden increase in the rate of thyroid cancer. This is happened because cesium-137 or radioactive cesium, with a mass number of 137, has the capability to enter the food chain and can be delivered around an internal dosage of radiation before it can be metabolically eliminated. To prevent this from spreading, livestock were only fed plants that are uncontaminated or plants that cannot accumulate heavy metals. After that, a method was introduced to clean the soil from the toxins. This is called...
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...QUESTIONNAIRE Topic-“Human Sustains Nature Detains” Q.1)The usage of four wheelers has considerably increased in the last 15 years.Do you think it is harming the environment? a)Yes b)No c)May Be d)Not thought of A.1) Yes, the number of vehicles, not just four wheelers, has increased many folds, leading to air pollution, noise pollution and felling of trees, since more roads need to be built to accommodate the vehicular density of this city. Q.2)Do you prefer microwave cooking over gas cooking at home? a)Sometimes b)Never c)Occasionally d)Always A.2) I sometimes prefer to use the microwave for short term heating purpose only. For an extended stretch of time, always use the piped natural gas (PNG) as it is more eco-friendly. Q.3)When you go to a mall for shopping do you carry a jute bag or paper bag with you? a)Yes b)No c)Sometimes d)I prefer to purchase it A.3) I carry a bag made from fabric when I go shopping since it can reused and avoids wastage of money on new carry bags on each visit. Q.4)How much water do you consume while washing your car or two wheeler? a)4 buckets b)2 buckets c)1 bucket d)I use sponge wash A.4) A bucket or half seems essential to wash the dirt away if it is done on daily basis. Q.5)Do you reuse the leftover water in any other form? a)Sometimes b)Never c)Always d)All the water is consumed A.5) Leftover water, especially that emitted from the air-conditioners serves well to flush the toilets since it is slightly acidic in nature due...
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...citizen’s gardens are at risk. The longer we wait to act, the more problems will arise. Out of all the options to clean up the No-Bug pesticide in Fruitvale, bioremediation is the best. Bioremediation uses microbes to clean groundwater and soil that is contaminated. Microbes are tiny organisms that use the contaminant as food and energy while living naturally in the environment. The microbes take in the...
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...Bioremediation Methods for Oil Spills Contents I. Introduction II. History of Bioremediation 1. ‘Courtship’ Period (Pre-1989) 2. ‘Honeymoon’ Period (1989-1991) 3. ‘Establishment’ Period (since 1992) III. The Biological and Chemical Processes of Bioremediation 1. Biodegradation a. Biological Process b. Degrading Species c. Chemical Process d. Need for Bioremediation 2. Bioremediation a. Seeding with Microbial Cultures b. Environmental Modification IV. Recent Applications of Bioremediation Techniques and their Effectiveness 1. Amoco Cadiz 2. Exxon Valdez 3. Mega Borg 4. Apex Barges 5. Arabian Gulf War V. Conclusion Bibliography Bioremediation Methods for Oil Spills Abstract. The increasing number of marine oil spills asks for effective solutions for the environment. Bioremediation techniques have become a major mechanism for removing oil residues on the affected shorelines. Among the different techniques to enhance natural biodegradation by indigenous microorganisms, seeding of new bacteria and fertilizing the indigenous populations have attracted the most interest. The application of nutrients as nitrogen and phosphorus in the form of fertilizers have shown to be most effective in accelerating the biodegradation process and at the same time to be environmentally safe. I. Introduction Since the freighter Pallas caused the worst oil pollution of the tidel shallows in the North Sea...
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...Gulf Oil Spill Keith Niesen ENV/100 July 22, 2013 Nash Saleh Gulf Oil Spill In 2010 America had a major disasters on its hands the BP oil spill, not only did some people die from this spill, but the oil spill contaminated the Gulf of Mexico. This was a representation of bad technology it also revealed many environmental risks that many people rather ignore. The oil spill also sparked huge outrage as to why this happened and what we must do to prevent another disaster like this. How can we change the way we drill oil and not affect our precious ecosystems and ruin wildlife or are ocean. What is some of the new technology we are using to help with preventing another oil spill from happening? After the oil rig explosion many pollutants were introduced into the air and water. Many of these pollutants were smoke and or hydrocarbon fumes. The water pollutants was the oil and natural gas that was constantly gushing out of the well. The primary pollutants are the smoke and hydrocarbon because they are pollutants that are directly being emitted into the air from a source. There are many concerns with air pollution and scientist have found many chemicals such as alkyl nitrates, methane, hexane and butane compounds the can irritate and burn skin and the eyes and can cause dizziness as well. With all of these samples that have been collected they have not shown levels above government safety regulations (Roosevelt, 2013). Oil pollution we know is dangerous for the environment our ocean...
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...However, there are a number of advantages to bioremediation, which may be employed in areas which cannot be reached easily without excavation. The foundation of bioremediation has been the natural ability of microorganisms to degrade organic compounds. Bioremediation is not a panacea but rather a natural process alternative to such methods as incineration, catalytic destruction, the use of adsorbents, and the physical removal and subsequent destruction of pollutants. The cost of moving and incinerating pollutants is at least ten times that of in situ biological...
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