In recent years of science there has been an increased interest, experiments and documented success in the use of microscopic organisms for environmental restoration and related projects. Bioremediation is the use of microscopic organisms to control and or destroy contaminants.
The fight against environmental pollutants has become increasingly challenging in this age of high consumerism. The usefulness of microscopic organisms as a successful remediation tool has been demonstrated but such success is also dependent on the ability to stimulate or enhance specific biodegradation activity of indigenous or introduced microorganisms. The challenge has been to enhance the activity of these microorganisms and to try and bring the contaminant into direct contact with the organisms to achieve optimal bioremediation.
A group of organisms that do not use oxygen for growth, referred to as anaerobic organisms, produce methane in environments where oxygen is limited. On the other hand there is a group of bacteria that oxidize methane as an energy source and carbon source which in turn remove methane from these environments.
These bacteria are called methanotrophs and the oxidation process is accomplished through the enzyme methane monooxygenase MMO. Methanotrophs, the bacteria have been intensely studied and experimented for use in degrading chlorinated solvents, most notably trichloroethylene, a colorless liquid which is used as a solvent for cleaning metal parts, to environmentally acceptable concentrations in soils, sediment, and groundwater.
Methanotrophic bacteria are widely distributed in the environment and the use of natural gas or methane with other nutrients to stimulate their bioremediation activities are two significant features that allow for a relatively efficient, inexpensive, and safe means to manipulate the environment to accelerate bioremediation.
A primary contaminant, Trichloroethylene TCE can be effectively degraded by Methanotrophs bacteria.
While sediment methanotrophic bacteria can be efficient in degrading TCE from contaminated groundwater, certain methanotroph bacteria are more efficient at TCE degradation than others. It has been suggested that mixed populations are more efficient in TCE degradation.
Biostimulation is the manipulation of environmental conditions to stimulate microbial degradation of contaminants. And it is necessary administer such stimulation to methanotrophic bacteria for it to be more efficient. Such stimulation to the bacteria is accomplished through the addition of methane and other gaseous nutrients resulting in an increase in contaminant biodegradation and biotransformation. This biostimulation may be applied in situ, meaning within the contaminated aquifer or soil, or ex situ, which means that contaminated subjects can be moved and treated, based on the site-specific needs.
In situ bioremediation means that the environmental restoration of contaminated sediments is not moved from the site or groundwater is not pumped and treated at the surface. When an in situ bioremediation technology is employed the relocation and transport of materials may be avoided resulting in much reduced remediation costs, lower contamination risks, shorter restoration time and increased efficiency, as well as enhanced public and regulatory acceptability.
In situ bioremediation was applied in the Savannah River Site SRS is a 320 square mile facility owned by the U.S. Department of Energy and operated by Westinghouse Savannah River Company. The SRS has generated nuclear materials for defense, medical, and space applications since the 1950’s. Most of the waste generated at the SRS including millions of pounds of chlorinated solvents was handled via burning rubble pits, evaporation ponds, and waste pits resulting in soil, sediment and groundwater contamination. The SRS has now completed several successful bioremediation demonstrations on soil and groundwater.
Microbial communities and microscopic organisms are highly diverse and capable of conducting an extensive range of metabolic activities and there is considerable interest for the prospect of degrading hazardous contaminants in situ by stimulating selective populations of bacteria biostimulation or by the addition of organisms to contaminated sites bioaugmentation.
Methanotroph bacteria are physiologically versatile in their ability to exist in a variety of habitats and live in hostile environments and such adaptability and manageability make these bacteria ideal for the remediation of hazardous environmental wastes.

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