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Land Contamination and Remediation

Bioremediation principles and bioreactor systems

  • 3 things to know
  • A2 1

Overview

How microbes degrade pollutants and the conditions they need, biostimulation and bioaugmentation, bioventing, landfarming and biopiles, slurry-phase bioreactors on site, monitoring, clay soils and aerobic breakdown of oil.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Define bioremediation.

Key term

Why can micro-organisms break down pollutants such as oil?

Key term

What conditions do micro-organisms need for effective bioremediation?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define bioremediation.

    Model answer

    Bioremediation is the use of micro-organisms to break down or transform pollutants in soil or water. Organic pollutants are converted into harmless products such as carbon dioxide and water.

  2. 2

    Why can micro-organisms break down pollutants such as oil?

    Model answer

    Many bacteria and fungi can use organic pollutants as a source of carbon and energy. Microbial enzymes break the pollutant molecules into simpler compounds.

  3. 3

    What conditions do micro-organisms need for effective bioremediation?

    Model answer

    Micro-organisms need oxygen for aerobic breakdown, and nitrogen and phosphorus as nutrients. Moisture, a suitable temperature and near-neutral pH are also required.

  4. 4

    What is biostimulation?

    Model answer

    Biostimulation adds oxygen, nutrients or moisture to encourage the micro-organisms already present at a site. The native microbes then degrade the pollutant faster.

  5. 5

    What is bioaugmentation?

    Model answer

    Bioaugmentation adds cultured micro-organisms that are known to degrade the target pollutant. The method helps where native microbes are too few or lack the right enzymes.

  6. 6

    What is bioventing?

    Model answer

    Bioventing is the pumping of air into unsaturated soil through wells to supply oxygen to microbes. The treatment happens in situ, without excavating the soil.

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