Bioremediation Techniques

Choose the Correct Answer

Correct Answer : Option a

Explanation
First pair is correctly matched: Bioventing involves injecting air into the soil to enhance microbial activity in the unsaturated (vadose) zone. It increases oxygen availability, stimulating indigenous microbes to degrade pollutants. Nutrients and moisture can also be added to improve the process.

Second pair is not correctly matched: Biosparging is an environmental remediation technique used to clean up contaminated groundwater by enhancing the natural processes of biodegradation. It involves the introduction of air (or oxygen) into the contaminated groundwater to stimulate the activity of naturally occurring microorganisms that can break down and degrade pollutants, particularly hydrocarbons such as oil and gasoline.

Third pair is not correctly matched: Windrows involve piling and periodically turning organic waste for aeration, commonly used in composting rather than in-situ bioremediation. Piled polluted soil is rotated periodically to improve microbial degradation of pollutants in the soil.

Fourth pair is not correctly matched: Bioaugmentation is a bioremediation technique that involves the addition of specific strains of microorganisms (or sometimes enzymes) to a contaminated environment to enhance the natural degradation process of pollutants. The purpose of bioaugmentation is to accelerate the breakdown of contaminants by introducing microbes that have a specific ability to degrade or detoxify harmful substances.