BIOREMEDIATION OF SOIL POLLUTED WITH TOXIC ORGANIC COMPOUNDS USING BIOFILM ATTACHED TO AGRICULTURE WASTES

Bioremediation using bacterial cells is a technology whereby organic wastes is degrade under controlled conditions to harmless molecules. Bioremediation is a relatively low-cost, low-technology techniques, which generally have a high public acceptance and can often be carried out in situ. However, it will not always be suitable because of high contaminant concentrations may be toxic to microorganisms, low density of indigenous microbial population, low temperature, soil fertility, soil texture and pH, moisture content and insufficient oxygen.

In this study, toluene and TCE were chosen as the toxic environmental pollutants. Toluene, represent toxic aromatic hydrocarbons and TCE (trichloroethylene) represent chlorinated molecules. Exposure to these molecules may influence central nervous system, loss of consciousness and suspect as carcinogenic molecules. Bioremediation of soil polluted with toluene or TCE was done using a novel method in which a biofilm of toluene and TCE degrading bacteria were attached to agriculture waste. The contaminated soil was bioremediated using biofilm attached to agriculture wastes as a function of contaminants concentration, temperature, soil fertility and oxygen contents.