What is the use of microorganisms to remove pollutants from water and use of microorganisms to remove or detoxify pollutants?
Microorganisms are utilized in bioremediation processes to remove or detoxify pollutants from water. Bioremediation involves the use of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms to break down organic pollutants or transform toxic inorganic compounds into less harmful forms. This natural process occurs by utilizing pollutants as a source of energy and carbon for microbial growth, resulting in the conversion of pollutants into harmless byproducts. Bioremediation is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach that can be applied directly at contaminated sites. Factors such as pollutant type, environmental conditions, and the availability of suitable microorganisms influence the success of bioremediation. Careful assessment, monitoring, and optimization are essential for effective and safe implementation of bioremediation techniques.
Microbes consume the organic contaminants and bind the less soluble fractions, which can then be filtered off. Toxic ammonia is reduced to nitrogen gas and released into the atmosphere. The microbes simply eat up contaminants such as oil and organic matter convert them and then let off carbon dioxide and water. The process uses naturally occurring bacteria, fungi or plants to degrade substances that are hazardous to human health or the environment. Bioremediation has been used to remove agricultural chemicals that leach from soil into groundwater and the subsurface. Toxic metals and oxides, such as selenium and arsenic compounds, can also be removed by bioremediation. Bioremediation is the use of biological processes or activity of the organisms to transform contaminants into inert substances. This biotechnological method is currently the cheapest and has greater efficiency in the removal of contaminants than conventional physicochemical methods. Aerobic bacteria are mostly used in new treatment plants in what is known as an aerated environment. This bacterium uses the free oxygen within the water to degrade the pollutants in the wastewater and then converts it into energy that it can use to grow and reproduce. Bacteria are probably the most significant group of organisms involved in water purification and are ubiquitous in all biological purification environments. Bioremediation uses micro-organisms to reduce pollution through the biological degradation of pollutants into non-toxic substances.The process of pollutant biodegradation depends mainly on the ability of microorganisms to metabolize pollutants; bacteria, fungi, and algae can degrade various contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons and use them as a source of energy.
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Teaching