US EPA

8018974 

Journal Article 

Bioremediation: Principles and future 

Garbisu, C; Alkorta, I 

1997 

Yes 

Journal of Clean Technology, Environmental Toxicology, and Occupational Medicine
ISSN: 1092-5732 

6 

4 

351-366 

English 

WOS:000071598800004 

http://://WOS:000071598800004
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Bioremediation offers a potentially more effective and economical clean-rep technique than conventional physicochemical methods. By means of exploiting the catalytic abilities of microorganisms we can enhance the rate or extent of pollutant destruction in our attempts to mitigate environmental contamination. Although in the case of some pollutants, such as petroleum hydrocarbons, bioremediation techniques have already proven to be highly efficient, more research, mainly on the ecology and physiology of the degradative microorganisms and their catabolic pathways. is required before they can be successfully applied to other more recalcitrant compounds. Although still in the future, there is the possibility of using genetically engineered microorganisms for the elimination of persistent chemicals. Nonetheless, before releasing these genetically-manipulated microorganisms into the environment, better active biological containment systems that form barriers which prevent the dissemination of the recombinant organisms will have to be devised. 

bioremediation; cometabolism; genetically engineered microorganisms; pollution