Types
Click an image to read more on the different types of bioremediation!
Microbial
Pseudomonas Putida
"Pseudomonas putida is a rod-shaped, flagellated, gram-negative bacterium that is found in most soil and water habitats where there is oxygen...
Pseudomonas putida has a very diverse aerobic metabolism that is able to degrade organic solvents such as toluene and also to convert styrene oil to biodegradable plastic Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which helps degrade the polystyrene foam which was thought to be non-biodegradable. This bacteria is unique because it has the most genes involved in breaking down aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons which are hazardous chemicals caused by burning fuel, coal, tobacco, and other organic matter." BT3,BT4
Dechloromonas Aromatica
"Dechloromonas aromatica have rod shaped cells, two membranes, and are gram-negative...
Dechloromonas aromatica is capable of oxidizing different aromatic compounds. D. aromatica strain RCB is also the only organism in pure culture that is capable of oxidizing benzene in the absence of oxygen. It is recognized as the first organism with the ability to do this, and is the only organism identified capable of this metabolism. Their unique ability to do so in the absence of oxygen can make them extremely useful if they are deployed to areas where there is contaminated soil or groundwater in bioremediation projects." BT5,BT6
Deinococcus Radiodurans
"Deinococcus radiodurans is a gram-positive bacteria that usually forms in spherical pairs or tetrads...
Currently, the organisms that are used for chemical and biological clean-up are not resistant to radiation. Since D. radiodurans is very resistant to radiation, scientists are interested in using the bacteria to clean up waste sites containing hazardous materials. Deinococcus radiodurans is already known to be able to break down solvents such as toluene, but work needs to be done to try and make the bacteria capable of breaking down other compounds and materials that are common at radioactive waste sites." BT7,BT8
Phytoremediation
Pteris Vittata
Chinese Brake Fern
"The Chinese brake fern is able to survive and thrive in toxic arsenic-laden soils. Arsenic is chemically similar to phosphate. The fern uses phosphate ion channels in root cell membranes to absorb and transport the metal to its leaves where it hyperaccumulates and functions as a deterrent to would-be predators." P3,P4,P5,P6
Helianthus
Sunflower
"The cleanup of Japan’s radioactive water and land from the 2011 tsunami is expected to take decades and will require a variety of corrective methods. One potential method for removing the poisonous material from the environment is to plant sunflowers. Sunflower can be subjected to the accumulators of lead, zinc, and cadmium, and can be successfully used for phytoremediation of contaminated soils with heavy metals." P7,P8,P9
Brassica Juncea
Black Mustard Seed
"Brassica Juncea has been shown to be effective at accumulating high tissue concentrations of lead when grown in contaminated soil. Despite initial slow growth, ability to extract some particular metal only, poor bioavailability of heavy metals in soils and non-compartmentalization within plant parts, addition of organic matter, organic chelates, soil amendments, adoption of suitable cropping systems, intercrops and fertilizer selection can enhance its phytoremediation capacity." P10,P11,P12
Mycoremediation
Gloeophyllum Sepiarium
Rusty Gilled Polypore
"A brown-rot polypore, this small bracket fungus was isolated from freshly cut conifer stumps in South Carolina. Also found growing on treated pine lumber, this fungal isolate can be used in similar fashion to the Trainwrecker, for studies involving the degradation or tolerance to copper fungicides, copper arsenate, and other antimicrobial mechanisms. This strain can also possibly be used to compost chipped treated lumber, rendering it into a usable garden product, minimizing the toxic effects and keeping it out of the landfills and watershed."
Stropharia Rugosoannulata
Kind Stropharia
"Probably the most commonly used mushroom for establishing mycofiltration barriers capturing runoff contaminated with coliforms, E.coli, and other biological contaminants threatening sensitive watersheds and improving water quality. Other applications are for grey water filtration systems and anywhere where biological pathogens are present and needed to be reduced. Grows on hardwood chips, making it a perfect candidate for creating a porous, myceliated biomass with a high flow rate to increase contact time." M3,M4