Innovative bioremediation targets both soil and groundwater pollutants
Cleaning up polluted industrial sites is a costly global issue. Contaminated areas are detrimental for the environment generally and pose risks to human health in particular. The EU-funded EiCLaR(opens in new window) project developed innovative in situ bioremediation strategies (ISBRs) and put them on track for rapid commercialisation.
Targeted pollutants
The ISBRs developed by the project target a range of industrial pollutants that impact soil and groundwater. These pollutants include halogenated compounds such as chlorinated solvents and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Chlorinated solvents are used in many industries and are commonly used for cleaning, degreasing and textile processing. PFASs, sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals,’(opens in new window) have been used in a wide range of products including waterproof materials, food packaging and adhesives. Petroleum hydrocarbons are the most frequently occurring environmental contaminant. Increasingly, heavy metals appear in the environment at toxic levels due to metal-based industries and agriculture.
Bioremediation technologies
Bioremediation of environmental pollutants relies on microorganisms to break down toxic substances into benign components. EiCLaR developed four technologies that leverage bioremediation in novel ways, fusing biological processes with physical processes. Project coordinator Tim Vogel states: “We are proud to have developed four innovative bioremediation technologies and one decision support tool(opens in new window) (DST). These technologies are applied to pollution found in the soil and groundwater where often existing biological processes are too slow or hindered by a mixture of pollutants.” Remediation processes include electro-nano-bioremediation (ENB), bioelectrical remediation (BER), aerobic metabolic TCE degradation (MBR) and enhanced phytoremediation (EPR). A total of 12 field sites were tested across Europe and China. According to Vogel: “The tests examined the ability of these technologies to work in soils and groundwater aquifers with different characteristics, including those affecting permeability, pH, contaminant concentration and type.”
Commercialising project outcomes
One key goal of EiCLaR was the commercial uptake of its remediation technologies within three years of the project’s completion. To this end, the consortium developed its DST, a road map for market readiness. The DST and two of the four technologies – ENB and BER – are already being commercialised. ENB, which works on halogenated compounds, introduces electrodes and iron nanoparticles in the contaminated area. An electric field regenerates the nanoparticles and then microorganisms break down the remaining contaminants. BER, which targets petroleum hydrocarbons, uses the bioelectrochemical system (BES), a device that converts chemical energy into electric energy. The bacteria oxidise the pollutant and released electrons are sent through the BES circuit. BER has the potential to recover energy from the substrate while at the same time remove pollutants from the environment. Still being field tested are MBR and EPR, which deal with chlorinated solvents and heavy metals/organics, respectively. EiCLaR technologies were studied in scale-up facilities that could test up to 10 cubic metres of soil. Overall, the project benefited from this robust field testing. Project EiCLaR concluded at the end of 2024, and is well within reach for all of its technologies to be ready for market in the next three years, which augurs well for a cleaner, healthier world.
