Bioremediation still poor stepchild

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · BioCycle; (USA)

OSTI ID:6936559

According to the authors, bioremediation continues to be the poor stepchild of remedial methods, despite its many advantages and highly useful potential. As has been the case over the past two decades, the process is being used mainly in the degradation of petroleum products and hydrocarbons. With regard to developments, companies have all but abandoned the use of genetically engineered microorganisms. Instead, the emphasis is on isolation of naturally occurring microorganisms and optimizing their ability to break down contaminants found on site. An increasingly large number of toxic substances are being shown to be biodegradable. A potential problem that could have a substantially adverse impact upon the viability of bioremediation is in the form of a new regulatory scheme being studied by the EPA. The new scheme would demand that naturally occurring and genetically engineered microorganisms not already listed or intended for an unrelated or new use, undergo premanufacturing notice review and be placed on the inventory before they can be used commercially. Apparently, the EPA has done little to encourage the adoption of bioremediation as a hazardous waste treatment option.

• OSTI ID: 6936559
• Journal Information: BioCycle; (USA), Journal Name: BioCycle; (USA) Vol. 30:10; ISSN BCYCD; ISSN 0276-5055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140505 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GENETIC ENGINEERING
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PROCESSING
REMEDIAL ACTION
TOXIC MATERIALS
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING