Typical Commercial Bioremediation Materials
In the late 1980s, the key development of the modern bioremediation age occurred
when microbiologists found a natural means for switching hydrocarbon-eating
bacteria into a "hibernation state." This is the same, zero-metabolism mode
the microbes assume in their natural soil habitat during periods of acute environmental
stress, such as extended droughts and ice ages. Once switched into this state,
they can be air-dried and packaged as a high-concentrate powder (above) with
a 90% survival rate. These special microbe materials are now produced by the
ton in high-tech bio-production facilities.
The zero-metabolism microbial production process allows unprecedented concentrations
of pure microbes to be conveniently shipped, stored for long periods and applied
in a precise manner at petroleum pollution sites. There are about 1 billion
microbes in each gram of the material pictured above.
Competent bioremediation contractors normally work with three different ingredients:
the dried microbes, liquid organic nutrients that help to "jump start" the hibernating
organisms back to full metabolic function, and liquid organic biological catalysts
that accelerate the rate of the microbes' metabolic functions--the rate at which
they exude enzymes, digest hydrocarbons and reproduce.
The three basic ingredients that are mixed to create the final bioremediation
agent--microbes, activating nutrients and accelerating catalysts--are normally
purchased in bulk quantities by contractors and mixed into a final form with
water just before they are applied at any given site. The actual amount of materials
used varies according to both the gross quantity of soil or water to be treated
as well as the concentration, age and viscosity of the specific hydrocarbon
pollutants.