Feasibility study on bioremediation techniques to contaminated soils

Abstract

Rapid industrialisation has altered the elements of nature such as soil, water and other geomaterials to a great extent. Ground contamination hinders the infrastructure development and promotes extension of unsuitable land areas especially within urban limits. To restore the natural behaviour of geomaterials numerous methodologies have been evolving. Bioremediation is a process that utilises microbial species such as bacteria, fungi, algae etc. Bioremediation is generally adopted in two ways: in-situ and ex-situ. Of these, ex-situ remediation demands excavation, transportation, remediation and refilling of contaminated material that makes the method unsuitable in case of vast contamination lands. In case of in-situ remediation, maintenance of optimum level of moisture, oxygen, nutrient support for microbial growth throughout the completion of process create problem. Bioventing, natural attenuation, Biosparging and Bioslurping are the different in-situ remediation technique that enhance microbial growth for remediation. This paper attempts to give a crucial review on different in-situ remediation techniques, the most viable micro-organisms that is suitable for a particular type of contaminant at different levels. A model that enhances the potentiality of existing technique has been proposed.