Biotreatment/bioremediation

Now commonly used in the UK, this method is a ‘standard' to treat organic contaminants in off-site ‘soil hospitals' on the continent.

This is the use of micro-biological activity to degrade contaminants, and is effectively harnessing natural processes and improving their environment, thus allowing optimised ‘breeding' conditions.

Above ground, this is carried out in biopiles or soil windrows, where forced aeration and/or composting techniques are used within a generally low-tech environment. In the ground, it involves the injection of nutrients, oxygen or foodstock directly.

This can stimulate the degradation of complex chemicals in the soil/groundwater into less hazardous compounds, water and carbon dioxide residuals.