Sample interview questions: Explain your knowledge of the principles behind different types of microbial bioremediation strategies for contaminated marine environments.
Sample answer:
Aerobic Bioremediation:
- Principle: Uses microorganisms that require oxygen to metabolize contaminants.
- Suitable for: Hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, pesticides.
- Strategies: Bioventing (injecting oxygen into subsurface), bioaugmentation (adding specialized microbes), biostimulation (adding nutrients to enhance microbial growth).
Anaerobic Bioremediation:
- Principle: Employs organisms that do not require oxygen to degrade contaminants.
- Suitable for: Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX), chlorinated aliphatics.
- Strategies: Biosparging (injecting nitrogen gas to create anaerobic conditions), permeable reactive barriers (placing anaerobic materials to intercept contaminants).
Biosurfactant-Enhanced Bioremediation:
- Principle: Utilizes microorganisms that produce biosurfactants, which help solubilize and degrade contaminants.
- Suitable for: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals.
- Strategies: Adding biosurfactant-producing microbes to contaminated sites, biostimulation with nutrients and biosurfactants.
Phytoremediation:
- Principle: Uses plants to absorb and degrade contaminants.
- Suitable for: Heavy metals, chlorinated compounds, hydrocarbons.
- Strategies: Planting tolerant species, enhancing root growth wi… Read full answer