Chapter 21
Biotechnologies for Soil Treatment
Petra Najmanová and Martin Halecký
Abstract Biodegradation performed by indigenous bacteria is one of the major
technologies that can effectively remove organic pollution from the environment.
The success of the bioremediation process depends on the ability to set up and
maintain the optimal conditions for the contaminant biodegradation. Soil excavation
followed by ex situ bioremediation is mostly applied to accelerate the site clean-up
efficiency of the contaminated soil. An overview of various bioremediation techniques for soil treatment will be provided in this chapter. Basic information on the
optimal conditions, the biodegradable contaminants, and the different kinds of
bioremediation stimulants with their efficiency will be presented in comparison
with the application of allochthonous bacteria. This chapter is especially devoted
to the petroleum hydrocarbons, which still represent the main pollutants that are
removable by bioremediation in real applications. The topic of bioremediation of
persistent organic pollutants will be mentioned only marginally as it will be
discussed in detail in the following chapters.
Keywords Soil bioremediation · Petroleum hydrocarbons · Biopiles · Landfarming ·
Biostimulation · Bioaugmentation
21.1 Introduction
During the last two decades a wide range of research papers on known biodegraders
has been published. The research has covered their isolation, description, and
formation of genetically modified organisms with improved characteristics.
P. Najmanová (*)
DEKONTA, a.s., Stehelčeves, Czech Republic
Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague,
Czech Republic
e-mail: najmanova@dekonta.cz
M. Halecký
Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague,
Czech Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_21
437
Biotechnologies for Soil Treatment
Petra Najmanová and Martin Halecký
Abstract Biodegradation performed by indigenous bacteria is one of the major
technologies that can effectively remove organic pollution from the environment.
The success of the bioremediation process depends on the ability to set up and
maintain the optimal conditions for the contaminant biodegradation. Soil excavation
followed by ex situ bioremediation is mostly applied to accelerate the site clean-up
efficiency of the contaminated soil. An overview of various bioremediation techniques for soil treatment will be provided in this chapter. Basic information on the
optimal conditions, the biodegradable contaminants, and the different kinds of
bioremediation stimulants with their efficiency will be presented in comparison
with the application of allochthonous bacteria. This chapter is especially devoted
to the petroleum hydrocarbons, which still represent the main pollutants that are
removable by bioremediation in real applications. The topic of bioremediation of
persistent organic pollutants will be mentioned only marginally as it will be
discussed in detail in the following chapters.
Keywords Soil bioremediation · Petroleum hydrocarbons · Biopiles · Landfarming ·
Biostimulation · Bioaugmentation
21.1 Introduction
During the last two decades a wide range of research papers on known biodegraders
has been published. The research has covered their isolation, description, and
formation of genetically modified organisms with improved characteristics.
P. Najmanová (*)
DEKONTA, a.s., Stehelčeves, Czech Republic
Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague,
Czech Republic
e-mail: najmanova@dekonta.cz
M. Halecký
Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague,
Czech Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_21
437