Definition:
It refers to the process of using microorganisms to remove the environmental
pollutants.
Bioremediation
It is the use of living organisms to degrade environmental pollutants or
prevent pollution. it is a technology for removing pollutants from the
environment, restoring contaminated sites and preventing future pollution. However,
it has a global regional and local application. The basis of bio remediation is
the enormous natural capacity of microorganism to degrade organic compounds. The
capacity could be improved by applying GMMs.
It
is also known as biotreatment, biorestoration, bioreclamation.
|
Microorganism |
Pollutant chemicals |
|
Pseudomonas sp. |
Aliphatic and
aromatic hydrocarbons – alkylan inoxides, alkylammonium benzene, naphthalene anthracene,
xylene, toluene (PCBs), malathion parathion,
organophosphates. |
|
Mycobacterium sp. |
Benzene, branched hydrocarbons,
cycloparaffins. |
|
Alcaligens sp. |
Poly chlorinated biphenyls, alkyl
benzenes, halogenated hydrocarbons. |
|
Nocardia sp. |
Naphthalene, alkylbenzenes, Phenoxyacetate. |
|
Arthrobacter sp.
|
Benzene, polycylic aromatics, Phenoxyacetate pentachorophenol. |
|
Corynbacterium sp. |
Halogenated
hydrocarbons, Phenoxyacetate |
|
Bacillus sp. |
Long chain
alkanes, Phenylurea |
|
Candida sp. |
Polychlorinated
biphenyls |
|
Aspergillus sp. |
Phenols |
|
Xanthomonas |
Polycyclic
hydrocarbons |
|
Streptomyces sp. |
Halogenated
hydrocarbons, Phenoxyacetate |
|
Fusarium sp. |
Propanil |
|
Cunninghamella sp. |
Polycyclic aromatics, polychlorinated biphenyls |
Types of Bioremediation: 1. Insitu bioremediation 2. Exsitu bioremediation
1.
Insitu bioremediation: It involves a direct approach for microbial degradation
of xenobiotics at the site of pollution (soil, ground water). It has been
successfully applied for clean up of oil spoilages, beaches etc.
2.
Exsitu bioremediation: The waste or toxic materials can be collected from the polluted
sites and the bioremediation with the requisite microorganism can be carried
out at designed places.
Bioremediation
of Hydrocarbons: Hydrocarbons are mainly the pollutants from oil refineries and
oil spills
· Pseudomonas putida: Containing XYL and NAH plasmid grew rapidly on crude oil
Bioremediation
of Industrial wastes: Actinomycetes have a higher capacity to bind metal ions
- Aspergillus
oryza: used for copper removal
- Aspergillus niger: Used for heavy metal removal