Bio-remediation
ENVIRONMENT
Recorded by Sofie Pelsmakers, images by Essi Nisonen
KEY READINGS
Sustainable Brownfield Development: Building a Sustainable Future on Sites of our Polluting Past, De Sousa Christopher, Ryerson University
What is Bioremediation: Types and Examples of it https://www.earthreminder.com/what-is-bioremediation-types-and-examples/
Designing for the Climate Emergency, a Guide for Architecture Students by Pelsmakers, S., Donovan, E., Hoggard, A., Kozminska, U., RIBA
Soil Bioremediation: Overview of Technologies and Trends, Sales da Silva, et al,. Energies 2020, 13, 4664. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13184664
Sources of soil pollution, UN Environment programme, https://www.fao.org/3/cb4894en/online/src/html/chapter-03-5.html
Use of Bioremediation at Superfund Sites, EPA https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-08/documents/bioremediation_542r01019.pdf
Overview of ex situ decontamination techniques for soil cleanup, Pavel et al https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287574661_Overview_of_ex_situ_decontamination_techniques_for_soil_cleanup
Bioreactor and bioprocess technology for bioremediation of domestic and municipal wastewater, Singh et al
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/bioreactor
INSPIRATIONAL BUILT EXAMPLES
Alusta Pavilion, Suomi Koivisto Architects, Helsinki, Finland
Turenscape, Mangrove Park sponge city, China
Vauban, Freiburg, Germany
BIO-REMEDIATION
Soil pollution, caused by human activities like agriculture, industry, and urban development, adversely affects biodiversity, leading to a loss of healthy land. Bio-remediation is a biological process that employs plants, algae, and micro-organisms to break down and reduce pollutants, often on-site, over several weeks or months. It is a cost-effective, restorative approach that not only protects human health but also preserves biodiversity and strengthens human-nature connections. Several bio-remediation approaches exist that are in-situ or ex-situ (were soil is removed) (e.g. intrinsic bioremediation, permeable reactive barriers, phytoremediation and ex-situ methods like composting, landfarming, biopiles, and bioreactors). The choice depends on the context like pollutant type, soil composition, costs, and treatment time.
Careful research to understand the existing conditions are needed to select the right bio-remediation approach, in practice experts will be involved in this.
In addressing soil pollution, different bioremediation options exist, including in-situ techniques like are also employed. The choice of method depends on various factors like pollutant type, soil composition, costs, and treatment time.
In your own project, ensure you restore and not create more land or water and air pollution: remember that water and air pollution also affect soil pollution as it comes back in rainwater and runs off into rivers etc.). When incorporating bio-remediation we can remove soil pollution, preserve biodiversity, and nurture healthier ecosystems while supporting human health.