Sample interview questions: Explain your knowledge of the principles behind different types of microbial bioremediation strategies for contaminated groundwater.
Sample answer:
1. Biostimulation:
-
Microbial bioremediation strategies for contaminated groundwater capitalize on the metabolic activities of microorganisms to degrade or transform pollutants into innocuous substances.
-
Biostimulation seeks to enhance the indigenous microbial population capable of degrading contaminants by supplementing nutrients (e.g., carbon sources, electron acceptors, or cofactors) that limit their growth or activity.
-
By increasing the availability of these essential resources, biostimulation aims to stimulate the growth and activity of pollutant-degrading microorganisms, thereby enhancing the biodegradation of contaminants.
2. Bioaugmentation:
-
Bioaugmentation involves introducing selected microorganisms with specific pollutant-degrading capabilities into the contaminated environment to supplement or enhance the indigenous microbial population.
-
The introduced microorganisms are typically chosen for their known ability to degrade the contaminants of concern and their adaptation to the environmental conditions at the contaminated site.
-
Bioaugmentation aims to accelerate the biodegradation process by introducing microorganisms that possess the desired metabolic pathways and enzymes necessary for contaminant degradation.
3. Intrinsic Bioremediation:
-
Intrinsic bioremediation relies solely on the naturally occurring microbial population present at a contaminated site to degrade contaminants.
-
This approach involves creating conditions that favor the growth and activity of indigenous microorganisms capable of degrading the contaminants, such as optimizing environmental conditions (e.g., pH, temperature, and oxygen levels) and minimizing disturbances to the natural microbial community.
-
It is a cost-effective and sustainable approach that requires minimal intervention and can be applied … Read full answer