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I1`S Bi* oremediation.11 AW. Yths Vs ,., Realities Although biological methods have been used to treat hazardous waste for more than a decade, there are still those who question the technology's potential and those who overrate its use. By Geoffrey H. Swett hen biore- Field. Although many biore- mediation mediation projects com- was first pleted to date have been widely - either laboratory- or dem- commercialized in the mid- onstration-scale work, this 1980s, few in the hazard- is simply a function of the ous waste cleanup busi- lengthy regulatory process ness could predict its rapid F associated with remedia- acceptance by industry tion projects in general and regulators. In the six and NOT a function of years since the First Super- flawed or emerging technol- fund Record of Decision ogy. (ROD) to use bioremedia- The fact is, there are tion was issued, some 36 many examples of full-scale RODS incorporating biore- field applications of biore- mediation have been mediation, with the pros- handed out.' pect of more to follow. EPA, In addition, the Envi- for example, has identified ronmental Protection In the bioremediation process, microorganisms can be used to degrade approximately 132 projects Agency (EPA) has identi- hazardous contaminants. The contaminated wastewater samples here have been that had gone into the field j fled at least 124 projects in scanned with an electron microscope to enhance study of the samples'biology. by 1991;to date,90 of these p Photos courtesy Electro Scan, Trisha Rice,photographer. which bioremediation is have been completed.3 One being considered as a treatment doubts about its potential for full-scale firm has completed more than 30 method.2 EPA's numbers might be low; cleanup projects.Others do not believe full-scale remediation projects involy- it is estimated that more than 250 bioremediation can be cost effective. ing the bioremediation of 360,000 cubic future bioremediation projects are Still others think bioremediation is so yards of contaminated soil and sludges. undergoing serious evaluation. simple, any environmental engineer- Equally impressive is the fact that What all this indicates is that the ing and contracting firm can apply the two Superfund projects using bioreme- use of bioremediation for full-scale technology to a given project. diation have achieved the treatment cleanups is growing rapidly. These So what is the truth? What can we objectives identified in their respective statistics also reflect the vast potential reasonably expect from a technology RODS, and numerous RCRA and state this technology has for cleaning up that some view as a panacea for all regulated closures also have been com- some of our nation's environmental environmental problems, while others pleted. problems, see it as an idea whose time has not yet What does this mean? Certainly it But bioremediation proponents have come? means we have to start thinking about not yet succeeded in convincing skep- This article attempts to clarify some bioremediation as a technology that tics about the future success of biotech- of the myths and misconceptions about has left the laboratory for,4he field- As nology. primarily because so many bioremediation and discusses its discussed earlier, it is estimated that myths and misconceptions surround potential for future cleanup projects. more than 250 potential bioremedia- its use.While bioremediation has come ,Myth No. 1 -- The technology is tion projects are being considered.The a long way, many people still express experimental and not ready to take to the continued on page 24 i M. AV 1Q("