Bioremediation

Bioremediation is a set of biotechnological remediation strategies that use microorganisms to remove contaminants, pollutants and toxins from the soil, water and other environmental matrices. Bioremediation represents a more environmentally sustainable alternative for the treatment of contaminated ecosystems, compared to chemical, physical and thermal treatment.

Since bioremediation strategies are site-specific, their effectiveness depends on complex ecological factors and mechanisms, which control the growth, coexistence and functionality of the microorganisms that populate contaminated soils.

DnD Biotech offers its customers a consultancy service for the implementation of the most appropriate bioremediation technologies in relation to the characteristics of each contaminated site.

During our experiments, we have verified that the selection of autochthonous microbial strains (strains selected directly from the polluted matrix) is the most efficient way to obtain microorganisms capable of reducing the concentrations of pollutants in bioremediation practices.

This process is called bioaugmentation and involves the selection and multiplication of native microorganisms already present in the contaminated soil / matrix.

A strain selected from the polluted matrix is already adapted to that environment, which is made up of a unique chemical, physical and biological composition.

The selected strain must also be able to coexist with the other microorganisms that already live in the matrix, and the selection must be made according to the strain’s ability to use the pollutant as the main source of nutrition.

Furthermore, not all countries have legally regulated the use of non-native microorganisms for in situ bioremediation.

Once the microbial strain that shows the best degradation kinetics of the pollutants has been selected, it can be multiplied and re-inserted into the polluted matrix.

Depending on the characteristics of the contaminated soil, following the insertion of the bioaugmented strain into the matrix, it is also possible to proceed with practices known as biostimulation, i.e. the insertion, in the polluted matrix, of additional nutrients aimed at promoting microbial development and consequently speed up the degradation kinetics.

Thanks to the execution of our optimization studies for bioremediation, we are able to translate our experiences in terms of R&D into a consultancy and industrialization service to achieve the recovery objectives set by the client.

The optimization studies for bioremediation offered by DND Biotech are divided into:

• Laboratory tests, which provide a detailed physical, chemical, and microbiological characterization of the contaminated soil, estimating the biodegradation potential of the native microbial community.

• Pilot test of the performance of the bioremediation strategy proposed in different combinations and methods of pretreatment and treatment (soil improvers, bio-stimulation and bio-growth protocols, irrigation techniques).

• Development of monitoring plans and protocols for assessing sustainability, and finally drafting of technical reports to support the customer.

DND Biotech’s optimization studies for bioremediation allow customers to evaluate different combinations and methods of biological treatment and estimate remediation performance, times, costs, and environmental impact, to implement the best treatment protocol to carry out large-scale remediation work.