History | bioremediation

Evolution of Bioremediation

The Ancient Romans were the first documented civilization to utilize microorganisms to treat waste water introducing the concept of bioremediation around 600 B.C. The technique of bioremediation has since been modified to fit society's needs and improved research. (2.1)

Pre-1989 The Courtship Period

The courtship period was when bioremediation became a topic of research and little has been known other than its usage in microbiology and remediation of hazardous waste. During the 1970s to 1980s, scientific documents became published about bioremediation and these documents provide results of measured degradation rates in diverse environments. Through the monitoring of Amoco Cadiz oil degradation rate after microbial remediation, scientists confirmed the results of previous experiments concerning bioremediation in laboratory. The comparison of results establish the foundation for bioremediation of oil. Then, in 1980s countless commercial products were produced based on the idea of bioremediation. Majority of the products were acquired through a variety of microbes, but bioremediation is still not well known or applied to any major catastrophe known to man. (2.2)

Honeymoon Period (1989-1991)

The honeymoon period marks bioremediation’s popularity amongst scientists and the general population. When the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred, scientists began to develop a protocol for evaluating the possible methods of bioremediation and selecting the most suitable for clean up. The protocols became the starting point for general tests later used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for identifying the best method of bioremediation in various situations. After the Exxon Valdez oil spill, other scientists around the world adopt the method and monitor its effectiveness. Unfortunately, the conducted experiments have questionable results of bioremediation that challenge its effectiveness because of poor design and difficulty in detecting in the change of oil concentration. (2.2)

1992 Establishment Period

With poor results from the Honeymoon period, the level of interest and attention to bioremediation considerably decreased. In contrast, it gains more realistic expectations and acceptance. Application of bioremediation are now accompanied by monitoring programs to conclude whether bioremediation is accelerating oil degradation rates. As a result, the expenses and efforts to establish a monitoring program dissuade the usage of bioremediation at smaller pits. (2.2)

(2.17)

George M. Robinson was coined the inventor of bioremediation. While serving as the assistant county petroleum engineer for Santa Maria, California, George M. Robinson spent his excess time experimenting on dirty jars and abandoned oil sumps of the Cat Canyon Oil Field. (2.18)

The image on the left indicates microbes releasing enzymes that penetrate hydrocarbons and transforming it into energy microbes consume.

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