Oil Spills: Future of Bioremediation

While the understanding of bioremediation is getting better, the efficiency of bioremediation will grow rapidly in the future. Because of its unique expertise in microbiology(the branch of biology dealing with the structure, function, uses, and modes of existence of microscopic organisms), hydrogeology (the science dealing with the occurrence and distribution of underground water), and geochemistry, (the science dealing with the chemical changes in and the composition of the earth's crust), the USGS (United States Global Change) will continue to be at the beginning of this exciting and rapidly evolving technology.

In addition to the identification of new microbial capabilities for degrading chemical pollutants, other technical offshoots will evolve. These can be viewed as bioaugmentation, analytical methods, and process innovations. Many needs to be learned about how microorganisms interact with different hydrologic environments. Bioremediation can be used to treat a wide range of different compounds, but there are controversies that are holding bioremediation from expanding.

Research is under way into into new advances to increase the availability of contaminants to microbes. This would increase Bioremediation's efficiency. Techniques for promoting contaminant transport to the organisms are injecting heat into the contaminants such as steam, hot water, or hot air. Discovering imoroved methods for spreading the microorganisms may also enhance microbial contact with the contaminants and lead to a more effective technique of Bioremediation.

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=2131&page=130

http://water.usgs.gov/wid/html/bioremed.html#HDR4

http://books.google.com/books?id=6GnTIXi6MVYC&pg=PA91&lpg=PA91&dq=future+bioremediation&source=bl&ots=8EdA7jQ9oO&sig=5dHbnPjmLi2zoMrW3xWv8sZgG3M&hl=en&ei=cYDiTIfUNoH68AbUpLDfDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEIQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=future%20bioremediation&f=false