The 4-1-1 on Bioremediation

Bioremediation is a type of biotech that uses living organisms to break down contaminants, pollutants, or toxins. Bioremediation methods can be employed in many environments, including soil and water. The decontaminating organisms in question are usually fungi (in a process called phytoremediation) or microbes. They are naturally geared towards biodegrading contaminants, such as oil and other petroleum products, solvents, and pesticides. At BioNorth Solutions, we employ microbes in our products to degrade oil and fuels.

The biodegradation (or breakdown, if you will) of contaminants results in the production of water and carbon dioxide, which are returned to the environment. Once degradation is complete, the contaminants are gone and the environment is left cleaner.

Bioremediation can be used in-situ (treatment at contaminated sites) or ex-situ (treatment of excavated contaminated soil or water). Nutrients and specialized microorganisms are added in both cases to stimulate bioremediation processes. Treatment times can vary, as it is a natural process occurring in a natural environment.  Many factors can affect how long it takes for contaminants to be completely removed – temperature, moisture, competing microorganisms, the type of contaminant, and the size of the contaminated area. 

Sustainable and eco-friendly

Microbes are nature’s clean-up crew! Many microorganisms found in soils are naturally geared towards degrading pollutants and contaminants. These microorganisms can be introduced to other soils, in a process called biostimulation, to safely clean contamination and promote a healthy soil ecosystem.

Cost-effective

Bioremediation is cheaper than traditional methods, such as ‘dig and dump’.. Bioremediation also reduces the costs of labour and equipment – let the microbes do the remediation work for you!

Scalable

Whether you have a small spill or a large contaminated industrial site, bioremediation can accommodate your needs. Bioremediation is suitable for in-situ or ex-situ purposes, to treat the site directly or to treat biopiles.

Versatile and project friendly

Bioremediation can be used in many different scenarios and environments. Soil, water, and waste can be remediated using microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. This methodology is commonly used to treat industrial sites, petroleum and crude oil refineries, landfills, lumber processing facilities, as well as waste management and sanitation facilities.

Bioremediation can be applied in complement with traditional methods, such as chemox, ‘dig and dump’, and natural attenuation, to offset environmental disturbance. It can be useful where other methods cannot be applied, such as for cleaning under buildings or residual contamination.

Microbiate SG™ contains a proprietary blend of microbes that are cold-adapted to allow for a wide range of working temperatures (0.01-49℃), allowing for a longer remediation season and a greater climate reach.