Bioremediation
Restoring the Environment
Bioremediation
In the quest for sustainable solutions to environmental challenges, science often turns to nature itself for inspiration. One such remarkable process that exemplifies this concept is bioremediation. Bioremediation harnesses the power of living organisms to detoxify and restore environments contaminated by pollutants. From oil spills to industrial waste, this natural cleanup process offers a promising avenue for mitigating environmental damage. At its core, bioremediation involves the use of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and plants, to degrade or neutralize pollutants in soil, water, and air. These organisms possess unique metabolic capabilities that enable them to break down various contaminants into harmless byproducts through biological processes. As research and technology advance, the potential of bioremediation continues to expand. Innovations in microbial genomics, nanotechnology, and bioengineering hold promise for enhancing the efficiency and scope of bioremediation applications.
Soil Decontamination
In soil environments, microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and certain plants are utilized to break down or neutralize harmful substances present in the soil. These contaminants can range from petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals to pesticides and industrial chemicals. The microorganisms involved in bioremediation use these pollutants as sources of energy and nutrients for their growth and metabolic processes. Bioaugmentation is a method that introduces specific strains of microorganisms that are known to degrade the contaminants are introduced into the soil to enhance the bioremediation process. These microorganisms may be naturally occurring or genetically engineered for improved efficiency in breaking down the target pollutants.
Wastewater Treatment
Industrial activities often release toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, nickel, and zinc into waterways, posing significant risks to ecosystems and human health. Traditional methods for heavy metal removal from wastewater can be costly and may have limited effectiveness, especially in treating high-volume effluents with low metal concentrations. Bioremediation offers a sustainable alternative by harnessing the natural abilities of microorganisms or plants to degrade, absorb, or transform contaminants. Studies have been done with microalgae for removing heavy metals from polluted water sources. By understanding the mechanisms of metal uptake, metabolism, and detoxification in these organisms, practical and efficient bioremediation strategies can be applied to diverse industrial settings worldwide, contributing to cleaner and safer environments for all.
Oil Spill Clean Up
When oil spills occur, they pose significant threats to ecosystems, marine life, and human health. Traditional cleanup methods like containment booms and chemical dispersants can be effective to some extent, but they often have drawbacks and can cause additional harm to the environment. Bioremediation leverages the metabolic capabilities of microorganisms to break down oil components into harmless byproducts like carbon dioxide and water. This process typically involves introducing specific strains of oil-eating bacteria, fungi, or other microbes to the contaminated area, where they can thrive and metabolize the oil. One of the key advantages of bioremediation is its ability to target oil pollution at its source, whether it is a large-scale offshore spill or a smaller onshore leak. Microbes can be applied directly to the affected area or encouraged to multiply naturally through the addition of nutrients or other growth-promoting substances. In some cases, Indigenous microbial populations already present in the environment can be stimulated to enhance their oil-degrading capabilities. Columbus Instruments’ Micro-Oxymax has successfully aided in bioremediation efforts in numerous oil spill incidents around the world, including the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 and the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. Continued research and development in this field holds promise for further improving the efficacy and scalability of bioremediation techniques, offering hope for more sustainable approaches to managing oil pollution in the future.
How the Micro-Oxymax Can Benefit Bioremediation Efforts
The Columbus Instruments’ Micro-Oxymax system is a highly adaptable general-purpose closed-circuit respirometer. The system monitors the concentration of gas contained within an enclosed head space into which the material being monitored is respiring. Periodic sensing of the gas concentration, along with an equally accurate measurement of the volume of the head space, allows calculations of incremental and accumulated values for consumption and production. The Micro-Oxymax design principle provides a sensing threshold near 2 x 10-7 liter per hour. The system can be configured for single or multiple gas sensing. Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and a variety of other gases can be sensed over specially selected ranges to meet almost any application.
The Micro-Oxymax is a modular system that can support testing biodegradability in all environments. An initial configuration for basic investigations can be expanded later to include additional gases and/or chambers. The software automates many aspects of the test with a single set of sensors to calibrate, it takes only a few minutes to begin a test. The system automatically compensates for changes in pressure and temperature and converts evolved carbon dioxide to STP for easy conversion into milligrams.
Research using the Micro-Oxymax for Bioremediation Efforts
- Respirometry for Assessing the Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons
- Potential of Bioaugmentation and Biostimulation for Enhancing Intrinsic Biodegradation in Oil Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil
- Unveiling novel pathways and key contributors in the nitrogen cycle: Validation of enrichment and taxonomic characterization of oxygenic denitrifying microorganisms in environmental samples
- Effect of nitrogen source and nickel concentration on green microalga Botryococcus braunii growth and its remediation potential
- Environmental monitoring approaches used during bioremediation of soils contaminated with hazardous explosive chemicals
- Oilfield wastewater biotreatment in a fluidized-bed bioreactor using co-immobilized Rhodococcus cultures
- Microbial levan and pullulan as potential protective agents for reducing adverse effects of copper on Daphnia magna and Vibrio fischeri
- Enhanced crude oil biodegradation in soil via biostimulation
- Impact of Photooxidation and Biodegradation on the Fate of Oil Spilled During the Deepwater Horizon Incident: Advanced Stages of Weathering
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Bioremediation
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The Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System allows for 24-hour, automated, non-invasive collection of several physiological and behavioral parameters.
The Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System allows for 24-hour, automated, non-invasive collection of several physiological and behavioral parameters.
Columbus Instruments treadmills are state-of-the-art systems engineered for automated, non-invasive monitoring of laboratory animal activity, delivering precise and reliable data for physiology and behavior research.
Columbus Instruments treadmills are state-of-the-art systems engineered for automated, non-invasive monitoring of laboratory animal activity, delivering precise and reliable data for physiology and behavior research.
Precisely controlled enclosures for regulating temperature and light conditions in research studies.
Precisely controlled enclosures for regulating temperature and light conditions in research studies.
The Columbus Instruments Mouse Home Cage Running Wheel measures spontaneous activity in a voluntary free-spinning running wheel. The wheel is constructed to fit universally into most typical "shoebox" style cages (cage is not included with the system). Each wheel has a magnetic indicator and a hall effect sensor that connects to a computer interface and records wheel revolutions at user-specified intervals. Windows software is included for installation on a customer supplied PC. Data can be viewed in real time and exported into a CSV format at the end of the experiment.
The Columbus Instruments Mouse Home Cage Running Wheel measures spontaneous activity in a voluntary free-spinning running wheel. The wheel is constructed to fit universally into most typical "shoebox" style cages (cage is not included with the system). Each wheel has a magnetic indicator and a hall effect sensor that connects to a computer interface and records wheel revolutions at user-specified intervals. Windows software is included for installation on a customer supplied PC. Data can be viewed in real time and exported into a CSV format at the end of the experiment.
Exer-3/6, currently in its 4th generation, is a general purpose three (rats) or six (mice) lane animal exerciser utilizing single belt construction with dividing walls suspended over the tread surface.
Exer-3/6, currently in its 4th generation, is a general purpose three (rats) or six (mice) lane animal exerciser utilizing single belt construction with dividing walls suspended over the tread surface.
This unique, single lane, treadmill for mice provides an unobstructed view of animal foot location on a clear tread belt.
This unique, single lane, treadmill for mice provides an unobstructed view of animal foot location on a clear tread belt.
A precisely engineered instrument designed for reliable and consistent measurement of neurological conditions.
A precisely engineered instrument designed for reliable and consistent measurement of neurological conditions.
The Grip Strength Meter is employed in assessing neuromuscular function using efficiently designed pull bar assemblies.
The Grip Strength Meter is employed in assessing neuromuscular function using efficiently designed pull bar assemblies.
A rapid and efficient instrument designed to accurately assess pain relief levels in small laboratory animals.
A rapid and efficient instrument designed to accurately assess pain relief levels in small laboratory animals.
Allows each animal to exercise within an isolated space. An exercise belt, associated pulleys and optional stimuli are enclosed in a compartment which can be made air-tight
Allows each animal to exercise within an isolated space. An exercise belt, associated pulleys and optional stimuli are enclosed in a compartment which can be made air-tight
The Columbus Instruments Mouse Home Cage Running Wheel measures spontaneous activity in a voluntary free-spinning running wheel.
The Columbus Instruments Mouse Home Cage Running Wheel measures spontaneous activity in a voluntary free-spinning running wheel.
A precise, non-invasive blood pressure monitor that accurately measures systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure.
A precise, non-invasive blood pressure monitor that accurately measures systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure.
Multi-axis activity monitor for flexible, high-precision tracking of subject movement.
Multi-axis activity monitor for flexible, high-precision tracking of subject movement.
Automated animal activity meter for measuring locomotor activity, stereotypic movement, vertical movement, time in square, and animal path.
Automated animal activity meter for measuring locomotor activity, stereotypic movement, vertical movement, time in square, and animal path.
Designed to accurately measure the vertical component of motion associated with the startle reflex.
Designed to accurately measure the vertical component of motion associated with the startle reflex.
A multi-station rotation monitoring system that records full and partial turning motion in small laboratory animals.
A multi-station rotation monitoring system that records full and partial turning motion in small laboratory animals.
Implementation of the classic Rota-rod, designed to measure motor coordination, balance, and endurance in small animals.
Implementation of the classic Rota-rod, designed to measure motor coordination, balance, and endurance in small animals.
Custom-built home cage running wheels engineered for precise and reliable measurement of spontaneous activity in subjects.
Custom-built home cage running wheels engineered for precise and reliable measurement of spontaneous activity in subjects.
A highly adaptable general purpose closed circuit respirometer with very high sensitivity.
- Biodegradation
- ASTM D5511
- ISO 15985
- Etc.
- ISO 14851:2019
- ISO 14852:2018
- ISO 14853:2016
- Etc.
- ASTM D5538
- EN 13432
- ISO 14855
- Etc.
- ASTM D6691
- ISO 222403:2020
- Etc.
- OECD 301 B
- OECD 301
- OECD 301 F
- OECD 302B
- ASTM D5209
- ASTM D5210
- ASTM D5271
- Etc.
- ASTM D5988
- ISO 17556:2019
- Etc.
- Bioremediation
- Bioleaching
- Clean Energy
- Toxicity
- Insect Respiration
A gas blender that provides a continuous flow of mixed gases from pure gas sources.
- Gas Blending
- Hypoxia
- Multipoint Gas Calibration