The microflora of bioremediation

The successful bioremediation of soils is a function of three independent but interrelated factors: the contaminant, microorganisms, and the environment. This chapter discusses how soil microbial populations, either indigenous or introduced, respond to pollutants. It also suggests that one needs to consider soil structure, and the place of the resident microflora as a factor affecting the transformation of organic compounds. When considering bioremediation processes in soil, attention to the relationship between the active population and available nutrient source is critical. Soil is rapidly depleted of available carbon and nitrogen due to the activity of resident soil microorganisms. The microorganisms can be viewed as the biochemical machinery that drives the bioremediation process. This idea is a logical extension of many studies that show that soil organic matter turnover and nutrient cycling are microbially driven processes. Regardless of the availability of carbon, microorganisms must utilize an electron acceptor if degradation is to occur.