2.Scale up limitation

It is difficult to scale up bioremediation process from batch and pilot scale studies applicable to large scale field operations.

3.Technological advancement

More research is required to develop modern engineer bioremediation technologies that are suitable for sites with composite combinations of contaminants that are not equally distributed in the environment. It may be present as solids, liquids and gases forms.

**233**

**Author details**

Indu Sharma

*Bioremediation Techniques for Polluted Environment: Concept, Advantages, Limitations…*

Bioremediation takes longer time compare to other treatment options, such as

We are not certain to say that remediation is 100% completed, as there is no accepted definition of clean. Due to that performance evaluation of bioremediation is difficult, and there is no acceptable endpoint for bioremediation treatments.

Biodegradation is very fruitful and attractive option to remediating, cleaning, managing and recovering technique for solving polluted environment through microbial activity. The speed of undesirable waste substances degradation is

determined in competition with in biological agents like fungi, bacterial, algae inadequate supply with essential nutrient, uncomfortable external abiotic conditions (aeration, moisture, pH, temperature), and low bioavailability. Bioremediation depending on several factors, which include but not limited to cost, site characteristics, type and concentration of pollutants. The leading step to a successful bioremediation is site description, which helps create the most suitable and promising bioremediation technique (ex-situ or in-situ). Ex-situ bioremediation techniques tend to be more costly due to excavation and transportation from archeological site. However, they can be used to treat wider range of pollutants. In contrast, in-situ techniques have no extra cost for excavation; however, on-site installation cost of equipment, attached with effectively and control the subsurface of polluted site can reduce some ineffective in-situ bioremediation methods. Geological characteristics of polluted sites comprising soil, pollutant type and depth, human habitation site and performance of every bioremediation technique should be integrated in determining the most appropriate and operative bioremediation technique to

Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

University), Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India

provided the original work is properly cited.

successfully treatment of polluted sites.

\*Address all correspondence to: endusharma@gmail.com

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90453*

excavation and removal of soil from contaminated site.

4.Time taking process

5.Regulatory uncertainty

**8. Conclusion**

*Bioremediation Techniques for Polluted Environment: Concept, Advantages, Limitations… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90453*

## 4.Time taking process

*Trace Metals in the Environment - New Approaches and Recent Advances*

• Nonintrusive, possibly allowing for continued site use.

ecofriendly sustainable opportunities.

to quick and complete degradation process.

tion and removal of soil or incineration.

evenly dispersed in the environment.

**7.2 Limitations of bioremediation**

1.Specificity

contaminants.

2.Scale up limitation

ies applicable to large scale field operations.

3.Technological advancement

the initial compounds and persist in environment.

*7.1.2 The disadvantage of bioremediation*

environmental.

• Contaminants are destroyed, not simply transferred to different

• Current way of remediating environment from large contaminates and acts as

• It is restricted for biodegradable compounds. Not all compounds are disposed

• There are particular new products of biodegradation may be more toxic than

• Biological processes are highly specific, ecofriendly which includes the presence of metabolically active microbial populations, suitable environmental

• It is demanding to encourage the process from bench and pilot-scale to largescale field operations. Contaminants may be present as solids, liquids and gases. It often takes longer than other treatment preferences, such as excava-

• Research is needed to develop and engineer bioremediation technologies that are appropriate for sites with complex mixtures of contaminants that are not

Bioremediation is limited to those compounds that are biodegradable. This method is susceptible to rapid and complete degradation. Products of biodegradation may be more persistent or toxic than the parent compound in the environment.

Biological processes are highly specific. Important site factors mandatory for success include the presence of metabolically capable microbial populations, suitable environmental growth conditions, and appropriate levels of nutrients and

It is difficult to scale up bioremediation process from batch and pilot scale stud-

More research is required to develop modern engineer bioremediation technologies that are suitable for sites with composite combinations of contaminants that are not equally distributed in the environment. It may be present as solids, liquids and

growth conditions and availability of nutrients and contaminants.

**232**

gases forms.

Bioremediation takes longer time compare to other treatment options, such as excavation and removal of soil from contaminated site.

5.Regulatory uncertainty

We are not certain to say that remediation is 100% completed, as there is no accepted definition of clean. Due to that performance evaluation of bioremediation is difficult, and there is no acceptable endpoint for bioremediation treatments.
