Bioremediation

Molly Leung| Pages 18-22 | BioTeach Online Journal | Vol. 2 | Fall 2004

There are three classes of bioremediation. The first, biotransformation, is the alteration of contaminant molecules into less or non-hazardous molecules. Biodegradation consists of the breakdown of organic substances into smaller organic or inorganic molecules. Finally, mineralization is the complete biodegradation of organic materials into inorganic constituents such as CO₂ or H₂O.