ABSTRACT
Bioremediation has evolved frommanagement and treatment ofmu-
nicipal and industrial wastewater and solid wastes. Land disposal of
wastewaters on sewage farms began in the late 19th century and in-
volved the use of soil bacteria. In decontamination processes more
sophisticated methods of contaminant treatment, such as tricking
filters, activated sludge, and anaerobic fermentation, were advanced
in the first half of the 20th century. Since 1960, biological treatment
processes have continued to include newmethods of land treatment
and processes for biodegradation of particular types of compounds.
Developments in wastewater and solid-waste treatment have been
transferred to the treatment of contaminated soils and groundwater.
In recent years, most of the works on bioremediation has been on
the treatment of soils contaminated with petroleum products, since
most petroleum hydrocarbons are relatively easy to degrade and are
amenable to bioremediation, and the large number of sites conta-
minated with petroleum hydrocarbons from leaking underground
storage tanks.
