BIOREMEDIATION

&
CASE STUDY
SUBMITTED BY :

SUVASINI
MBA(BT) 4th SEM
ROLL - 25
• Bioremediation is the use of micro-organismal
metabolism to remove pollutants.

• The process whereby organic wastes are

biologically degraded under controlled conditions
to an innocuous state, or to levels below
concentration limits established by regulatory
authorities.

• Bioremediation uses naturally occurring bacteria

and fungi or plants to degrade or detoxify
substances hazardous to human health and/or the
environment.
Bioremediation Strategies :
• Different techniques are employed depending
the degree of saturation and aeration of the
area.

• In situ bioremediation involves treating the

contaminated material at the site.

• Ex situ involves the removal of the

contaminated material to be treated elsewhere.
 List of Technologies :
Used in In Situ : Used in EX Situ :
Bioventing Landfarming

Biospraying Composting

Bioaugmentation Biopiles

Bioreactors
Bioremediation Process :
Factors Affecting Bioremediation :
• Existence of microbial population capable of
degrading the contaminants.

• Availability of contaminant to microbial

population.

• Size and depth of polluted area.

• The environmental factors like type of soil,

temperature, pH, presence of oxygen, electron
acceptors, nutrients etc.
Microbes as Biodegrader :
• Aerobic :
Ex :- Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus,
Mycobacterium etc.
• Anaerobic :
Bioremediation of polychlorinated-
biphenyls (PCBs) in river sediments.
Ex :- Ligninolytic fungi. Fungi such as the white
rot fungus Phanaerochaete chrysosporium.
Advantages :
• It is a natural process.
• It is useful for the complete
destruction of wide variety
of the contaminants.
• Natural treatment and
environmentally safe.
• Minimal risk exposure.
• Costeffective.
Disadvantages :
•Limited to the compounds that
are biodegradable.
• Degradation product may be
more persistent and toxic than the
parent compound.
•Biological processes are often
highly specific.
•Takes longer time duration than
the other options.
•Research are needed to develop
and engineer bioremediation
technology.
Case Study…
 EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL
• The accident took place in
Prince William Sound,
Alaska on March 24, 1989.
• Exxon Valdez, supertanker
was containing 1.2
millions barrels.
• After accidents, 11 million
gallons of oil get spilled off
while remaining were
made to pump into
another tanker.
 Impact of Oil Spill
•The oil spill spread over the acres
of ocean area.

•The spill rifted in the water for 3

days before bagan to reach the off
shore, causing much of the damage
to marine life.

•All the oil spread over the 90,000

miles of the shore line, leading to
contamination and damage on vast
scale.
 Effects
• Hypothermia and drowning of birds and seal pups as the oil breaks
down the insulating capabilities of feathers and feather resp.

• Ingested oil can poison the animal or can create levels of toxin in
their system that affects the food chain.

• Damage to immune system of animals.

• Oil wastes reaching the shoreline, interact with sediments such as

beach sand and gravel, rocks and boulders, vegetation, and
terrestrial habitats of both wildlife and humans, causing erosion as
well as contamination.

• In all the way , the oil spill affects the biotic and abiotic factors of
ecosystem around the area.
• With the time, the lighter component of the get
evaporated.

• Till 1989, the emergency clean up were achieved, leading

primary scientific goal to accelerate nature’s own process.

• Scientists had identified naturally occuring microbes that

consumes hydrocarbons…But now the question was “How
to encourage these microorganisms to consume oil faster.?”
•
• Scientists tried out various combinations in lab and field
test.
• Bioremediation techniques used were mostly
bioventing and biospraying, where nutrients
(Nitrogen and Phosphorous) were added as
fertilizer. This help stimulating the growth of
microbes.

• Increase in microbes led to rapid oil ingestion.

Thus, biodegradation was speeded by 3-5 times.

• In 1990-91, the Alaskan shores were cleaned up

by 99%.