What is bioremediation?

Prepare for the Microbial Metabolism Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with helpful hints and detailed explanations. Ace your test with ease!

Bioremediation relies on the metabolic capabilities of microorganisms to break down environmental pollutants into less harmful compounds. Microbes use enzymes to transform contaminants—often mineralizing them to benign forms like CO2 and water or converting them into less toxic molecules—which makes cleanup possible directly at the polluted site or in a controlled setting. This approach can be enhanced by adding nutrients or specific microbial strains to boost activity or left to proceed naturally, depending on the situation.

Phytoremediation, which uses plants to uptake and store pollutants, is a related but different strategy that relies on plant metabolism and sequestration rather than microbial degradation. Using heat to treat contaminants is a physical remediation method, not microbial. Genetically modifying microbes to produce plastics is about creating useful products through biotechnology, not cleaning up existing pollution.