This video explains the two most important methods of In-Situ Biological Treatment of Contaminated Soil, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): bioventing and phytoremediation. Bioventing involves the injection of air into the vadose zone of the soil, increasing the indigenous microbial activity, which in turn increases the rate of removal of the pollutants. Bioventing is particularly efficient at targeting pollutants from petroleum products. Phytoremediation is the use of plants to extract, degrade, contain, or immobilize contaminants in the soil and water.
The U.S. EPA classifies phytoremediation into 5 different sub-processes:phytoextraction, phytodegradation, phytostabilization, phytovolatilization, and rhizodegradation. Currently, phytoremediation is used to remediate many classes of contamination, including petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, pesticides, explosives, heavy metals, and landfill leachates.
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