Bioremediation

The metabolic diversity of microbes has allowed their commercial exploitation in the field of waste-water and soil clean-up. The biodeterioration of paints, plastics, and other man-made compounds by microbes is often seen as a problem, but where unacceptable levels of these compounds accumulate, this property can be a benefit. Although the technology is still in its infancy, compounds previously considered recalcitrant are now being subjected to treatment by a variety of microbes. Pilot studies have shown the efficacy of the use of bacteria against compounds such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The use of microbes is not without problems: the biosurfactants of Pseudomonas species have been used to allow endemic soil bacteria bioavailability to emulsified crude oil after tanker spillages. However, the emulsified oil proved much more mobile than the crude slick, and a bigger problem was created as the hydrocarbons moved deep into gravel and towards potable water sources. Experimental waste-water treatment plants, where polluted medium is much more contained, have been far more successful than in situ approaches.