Learn more about Bioremediation
We are working on world-class bioremediationat the Las Salinas site, an effective and safe technique for people and the environment, with local and global experts.
What is Bioremediation?
Bioremediation is a nature-based technology that uses microscopic living organisms, such as bacteria, to restore contaminated environments.
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In the field, both in soil and water, there are bacteria adapted to feed on hydrocarbons.
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When the bacteria “eat” the hydrocarbons, they decontaminate the soil and water.
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As a result, they release water and CO2 into the environment.
Bioremediation is safe and does not generate environmental externalities during treatment, since it converts pollutants into a source of energy for bacteria, resulting in water vapor and CO2.
Bioremediation has its roots in the ancient use of microorganisms and plants to improve soil conditions, but its scientific development began to take shape in the mid-20th century. Although traditional practices, such as crop rotation and soil improvement, already used biological principles to restore ecosystems, it was not until after World War II that scientists began to actively explore the ability of certain microorganisms to degrade toxic compounds generated by human activity. During the 1960s and 1970s, with the increase in industrial pollution, the need arose to look for more sustainable and natural methods to treat contaminated soils and water bodies.
It is used in a wide range of applications, from the cleanup of contaminated industrial sites to the remediation of agricultural soils affected by pesticides.
The real breakthrough in bioremediation came in the 1980s, following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster in Alaska, which spurred research into bioremediation techniques as traditional cleanup methods proved ineffective. Scientists used specialized microorganisms for the first time to break down the spilled oil, ushering in a new era in environmental disaster management. This event marked a milestone in the history of bioremediation, demonstrating that the use of bacteria, fungi and other organisms was not only effective, but also less invasive to the environment.
Bioremediation in the world
Globally, bioremediation has proven to be effective in the rehabilitation of damaged soils, water and ecosystems. Its scope and success have been such that it has allowed the recovery of areas that seemed irrecoverable, offering a safe alternative with low environmental impact.
Bioremediation not only remediates contaminated sites, but also contributes to ecological regeneration, facilitating the return of biodiversity and promoting ecosystem resilience.
Discover some Bioremediation success stories from around the world.
Exxon Valdez, Alaska, United States
One of the first and best known cases of bioremediation was in Prince William Bay, affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Specialized bacteria were used to degrade the hydrocarbons on the shore, and the area was successfully remediated.
Dianchi Lake, China
The largest lake in Yunnan province suffered from severe levels of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Through the application of microorganisms and aquatic plants, water quality was significantly improved and algae blooms were reduced.
Port of Fremantle, Australia
In the Perth region, bioremediation was key to reducing contaminants in the harbor waters, including heavy metals and chemicals, using plants and bacteria to decontaminate the area.
Hamburg, Germany
Located in Hamburg, this project seeks to recover and develop the waterfront of Germany’s largest port, thanks to the expansion of Hamburg’s inner city towards the Elbe River. This, by reconstructing the adjacent former port area into a new 157-hectare downtown area, to form a lively urban space, bringing together workplaces, residential spaces and facilities supporting culture, leisure, tourism, retail, and public and private higher education.
Campus Luigi Eunaudi, Turin, Italy
A gas office was completely transformed into a university campus. The building was constructed by architect Norman Foster after remediation of the site, which had a level of contamination that required excavation of impacted soils. The buildings were constructed including mitigation measures for vapor instruction. While the urban remediation project is complete, a groundwater remediation process is still in operation, through oxygen over-saturation and re-injection into the aquifer.
Olympic Aquatic Center, Paris, France
For the 2024 Olympic Games in France, Séché Group managed the remediation of the 12 hectares of land on which the Olympic Aquatics Center is located. For 14 months, we worked to generate the necessary conditions to clean up and restore the site with a circular economy approach and the determination to limit its carbon footprint. This was a bioremediation process in which more than 43,000 m3 of land contaminated by hydrocarbons was cleaned up.
Dieppe Sud, France
A new mixed-use neighborhood is being developed in Dieppe Sud, France. But before work could begin, cleaning up the site was essential, as the soil was contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals, which was incompatible with the construction of buildings to house the public. Thus, 1,600 m3 of soil were stored under biopiles, as this technique allows this type of contamination to be well controlled.
Buenavista Garage, Madrid, Spain
In Buenavista, Spain, the second phase of decontamination of an old depot, which housed the maintenance and storage of streetcars and buses for 50 years, began in 2017. The remediation is being carried out using biopiles, as the Conserjería de Medio Ambiente de la Comunidad de Madrid in conjunction with the community agreed on this alternative due to the fact that “this system produces hardly any noise and its atmospheric impact is low”.
Port Huneme, California, United States
Between October 1996 and January 1997 the National Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) National Hydrocarbon Test Site left concentrations of up to 736 mg/kg in the soil from fuel storage spills and leaks. Using the bioremediation technique, 9 mts2 were treated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology. After 105 days of operation with biopiles, contaminant concentrations decreased from 736 mg/kg to 147 mg/kg.
Garcoke, Belgium
The 12-hectare Carcoke site is being remediated at this location. Soil remediation was carried out by excavation and treatment of contaminated soil, following an extensive pilot test of chemical oxidation by direct injection of persulfate. The remediation includes in situ activities by multiphase extraction and depth pumps, plus the installation of a biosparging system. In turn, groundwater remediation through incorporation and treatment, bioventilation and chemical oxidation.
