bioremediation

American  

[bahy-oh-ri-mee-dee-ay-shuhn] / ˌbaɪ oʊ rɪˌmi diˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

plural

bioremediations

1. Ecology. a process of decontaminating soil or water by using living organisms, especially bacteria, fungi, and green plants, to absorb or break down pollutants. See also phytoremediation.

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bioremediation British  

/ ˌbaɪəorɪˌmiːdɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. Also called: phytoremediation.  the use of plants to extract heavy metals from contaminated soils and water

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bioremediation Scientific  

/ bī′ō-rĭ-mē′dē-ā′shən /

1. The use of biological agents, such as bacteria, fungi, or green plants, to remove or neutralize contaminants, as in polluted soil or water. Bacteria and fungi generally work by breaking down contaminants such as petroleum into less harmful substances. Plants can be used to aerate polluted soil and stimulate microbial action. They can also absorb contaminants such as salts and metals into their tissues, which are then harvested and disposed of.

2. ◆ The use of green plants to decontaminate polluted soil or water is called phytoremediation.

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bioremediation Cultural  

1. The use of certain biological agents, especially bacteria, to remove or neutralize contaminants from polluted soil or water.

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Other Word Forms

• bioremedial
  adjective
• bioremediate
  verb
• bioremediator
  noun

Example Sentences

"Bioremediation relies on microorganisms to degrade or transform pollutants, and understanding community assembly can optimize these processes," Zhou said.

From Science Daily • Jan. 18, 2024

Bioremediation has been used to remove agricultural chemicals that leach from soil into groundwater and the subsurface.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Bioremediation is a waste management technique that involves the use of organisms such as plants, bacteria, and fungi to remove or neutralize pollutants from a contaminated site.

From Textbooks • Sep. 6, 2018