Applied Biotechnology for Decontamination of Polluted Soils. Possibilities and Problems

The possibilities for treating polluted soils according to biotechnological principles were investigated. Although considerable rates of biodegradation have been obtained, the actual rate of decontamination of authentically polluted soils appeared to be limited by that of the mass transfer of the pollutant from the soil particles to the degrading microorganisms. The latter rate appeared to be influenced by the physical properties of both pollutant and soil.The rate of mass transfer will have to be increased if an economically feasible process is to be achieved.