Research Product

Despite the high potential for bioremediation as an effective technology, its use is limited by the depth of understanding of biodegradation processes and inexperience in managing these processes in the field. This includes aspects of cometabolism, inoculation, evolution of biodegradation capabilities, monitoring and process control, measures of effectiveness, and genetic engineering. In response to these limitations and challenges, the Office of Research and Development (ORD) in EPA has developed an integrated bioremediation research and technology development program to advance the use of bioremediation in contaminant concentration and movement, biodegradation process identification and characterization, pilot-scale testing and systems development, field application concepts and techniques, performance evaluation, and modeling and extrapolation. This research program and the key issues for improving our understanding of biodegradation processes and ecology, as it applies to bioremediation, are discussed in this chapter.