bioremediation
Bacteria eating pollution
Bioremediation is using living organisms—typically bacteria, fungi, or plants—to clean up contaminated environments.
Microbes can break down oil spills, industrial chemicals, or heavy metals in soil and water.
The approach is often cheaper and less disruptive than mechanical or chemical cleanup methods: The EPA approved bioremediation for the polluted site.
Natural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- hydrocarbonsCarbon-hydrogen organic compounds
- pesticidesChemicals destroying harmful organisms
- solventsLiquids that dissolve substances
- PCBsBanned synthetic toxins
dioxins · radionuclides · nitrates · phosphates · leachate · effluent · pollutants · toxins
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
- enzymesReaction-speeding proteins
biodegradation · microbial · biofilms · metabolism · biocatalysts · biotransformation · degraders · consortia
Restoration of order
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- detoxificationRemoving harmful substances internally
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
recovery · revegetation · brownfield · Superfund · excavation · monitoring · attenuation · treatment
Contaminated drainage from buildings
- landfillWaste burial ground
- miningExtracting earth's resources
- industrialOf factories and production
- agriculturalOf farming practices
marine · soil · sediment · sludge · bioreactor · slurry · composting
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- wetlandsWater-saturated terrain
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- terrestrialRelating to land
biodiversity · bioaccumulation · bioavailability · trophic · ex-situ · ecological · indigenous
petroleum
Natural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- hydrocarbonsCarbon-hydrogen organic compounds
- pesticidesChemicals destroying harmful organisms
- solventsLiquids that dissolve substances
PCBs · dioxins · radionuclides · nitrates · phosphates · leachate · effluent · pollutants · toxins · arsenic
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
enzymes · biodegradation · microbial · biofilms · metabolism · biocatalysts · biotransformation · degraders · consortia · inoculum
cleanup
Restoration of order
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- detoxificationRemoving harmful substances internally
decontamination · recovery · revegetation · brownfield · Superfund · excavation · monitoring · attenuation · treatment · mitigation
wastewater
Contaminated drainage from buildings
- landfillWaste burial ground
- miningExtracting earth's resources
- industrialOf factories and production
agricultural · marine · soil · sediment · sludge · bioreactor · slurry · composting
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
terrestrial · biodiversity · bioaccumulation · bioavailability · trophic · ex-situ · ecological · indigenous
- bio-biography, biodegradable, biofuel, biochemistry, biotech
- BiotechDNA, bioengineering, genetic testing, gene, DNA sequencing
- sustainabilityreduce, reuse, recycle, sustainable yield, recycling programs
- Environmental Engineeringair pollution, emissions control, hazardous waste, pollution control, sewage treatment
- oil spillsoil spill, oil spills, oil slick, tar balls, oil boom
- pollution controlpollution control, emissions, air filter, emissions control, air purifier
bioremediationchemical treatment
Applying substances to transform materials
incineration · dredging · landfilling · vitrification · excavation
bioremediationcontamination
Introduction of impurities
pollution · environmental degradation · toxic dumping · industrial pollution · ecosystem damage
remedy, biology, remedial, biosphere, remediation, biomedical, remediate, remediated