Biological Treatment Principles

Biological treatment consists of creating the most favourable conditions for the rapid growth of specific, naturally occurring micro-organisms present in soil or groundwater that have the ability to degrade organic contaminants. Optimum conditions for the biodegradation process are created by controlling various parameters including: oxygen level, nutrient concentrations, moisture content, pH level, temperature, etc.

Natural degradation is, typically, already occurring in contaminated soil or groundwater. However, this process is very lengthy as some critical treatment parameters (ex. oxygen, nutrients) are often not at their optimal level. In this perspective, biological treatment simply accelerates a natural phenomenon, accomplishing in a few weeks or months what would require nature decades or centuries to achieve.