Bioremediation

Abstract

Bioremediation is the process of thoughtfully exploiting biological processes to minimize an unwanted environmental impact; usually the aim is the removal of a contaminant from the biosphere. Like most definitions in biology, that of bioremediation is the subject of some debate. A narrow definition might focus on the conversion of contaminating organic molecules to CO 2 , water, and inorganic ions, and the oxidation or reduction of contaminating inorganic ions such as nitrate or ammonia to harmless forms, in this case nitrogen gas. A broader definition would include biological processes for ameliorating extremes of pH, concentrating contaminants so that they can be more easily removed by physical techniques, converting toxic species to less toxic or less bioavailable forms that pose less of a threat to the environment, and restoring functional ecosystems to contaminated or disturbed sites when the contaminants or disturbance cannot be removed.