BIO-CLEAN
Cleaning up the world one spill at a time!
KERSITY EVANS
WHAT IS
BIOREMEDIATION?
BIOREMEDIATION IS...
• According to the EPA, bioremediation is "a treatment that uses naturally
occurring organisms to break down hazardous substances into less toxic or
non-toxic substances".
• Bioremediation involves the use of genetically enhancing organisms to
destroy toxic waste material and is often used in oil spill clean up.
• Bioremediation can be classified in two ways: in situ, treating contaminated
material at the site, or ex situ, removal of the contaminated material to be
treated elsewhere.
• There are many examples of bioremediation related technologies including:
phytoremediation, bioventing, bioleaching, landfarming, bioreactor,
composting, bioaugmentation, rhizofiltration, and biostimulation.
BIOREMEDIATION
HISTORY
• Bioremediation has been around since about 600 B.C.E. And was
believed to be used by the Romans to treat their waste water.
• Although it was discovered by Romans, bioremediation has only been
studied since the 1940's.
• The process of using bioremediation was discovered by George M.
Robinson in the 1960's.
METHODS OF
BIOREMEDIATION
Used in
railroads
and
metals
• Phytoremediation uses plants
to take in toxic substances.
• Mycoremediation- mushroom
mycelium (the main body of
the mushroom) releases
enzymes that can break the
chemical bonds of many
petrochemicals and toxins.
• Bacterial- gluttonous microbes
break down organic
contaminant. They break
carbon chains until the
contaminant is eliminated. As
a result, carbon dioxide and
water are left behind as
byproducts with trace
elements of fatty acids.
Used in toxic
waste, TNT,
and soil and
water
CURRENT USES
• The BP Oil Spill-
microorganisms decomposed
the pollutant.
• Slaughterhouses- used to
clean waste water.
• McDonalds- used to destroy
fat, oil, and grease.
• Ben and Jerry's- used to
destroy extremely strong
waste
PROS
CONS
Relatively inexpensive
Hard to control
No buildings need to be dug up
and removed
Concern about the spread of
germs
Works over large areas
Concern about disease from
toxic bacteria
Works quickly above ground and
Concern about use of unnatural
slowly below ground
bacteria (has been genetically
engineered)
Effective in oil spill clean up
Bacteria will clean until all toxic
waste is removed
BIOETHICAL CONCERNS
• The bacteria are naturally occurring and could upset
natural environment.
• Nutrients added could stimulate microbe species other
than those ment for bioremediation.
CASE STUDY
• The first commercial use of
bioremediation was in 1972 to
clean a Sun Oil pipeline spill in
Ambler, Pennsylvania. An
estimated 3,186 barrels of high
octane gasoline was spilled into an
aquifer due to a pipeline break.
The gasoline was contained by
pumping nearby wells.
• Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. A
pipe exploded and poured into the
Yellowstone River in Montana.
SOURCES
• http://andrewtle2011.wix.com/bioremediation#!contami
nated-sites/c2120
• http://matts-bioremediation.tripod.com/id3.html
• http://science.halleyhosting.com/sci/eco/fairviewstory/bi
oremediation.htm