Biology and Medicine

Abstract

Bioremediation technology: A new horizon for environmental clean-up

B Pandey, MH Fulekar

The hazardous wastes generated from the chemical processes/operations are being treated using physico- chemical and biological methods by the respective industries to meet the prescribed standard as per the Environmental Protection Act, 1986. The wastes treated by the respective industries are collected at Common Effluent Treatment Plant, before discharge into the environment. After the treatment of collected waste at Common Effluent Treatment Plant, the solid and treated effluents are segregated and disposed of into the soil- water environment. In spite of the present treatment technology, the organic pollutants are found persisting in the soil-water environment above their acceptable level. Hence, bioremediation is an innovative technology that has the potential to alleviate the toxic contamination. The processes of bioremediation usually occur in soil/water environment, whereby compounds are broken down into less toxic compounds and/or environmental friendly compounds by microorganisms. In this paper, the bioremediation techniques proved effective and efficient for remediation of pollutants using designed and developed laboratory bioreactors have been highlighted so as to take-up the bioremediation technology from laboratory to field to clean up the environment.