There are an estimated 2.8 million contaminated sites in the EU. Of the 650,000 registered locations, only 10% have so far been renovated. Since 2001 only 5,000 locations have been redeveloped, but at the same time 75,000 new contaminated sites have been created. New contaminated sites arise faster than how we can get rid of them. These sites are a direct threat to our health.

The remediation of such contaminated sites is associated with immense technical and economic difficulties in the removal of dangerous pollution, above all with high costs for the remediation itself, and not least the impossibility of complete decontamination. Current technologies are not suitable for in situ remediation or large volumes.

This can be remedied by new innovative technologies that enable simple in-situ application: Bioremediation by means of our microlive® bacterial consortia and appropriately coordinated nutrients ekocomplex® to release potentially toxic elements (PTE) and to decompose toxic compounds (e.g., PCB, cyanide, BaP, PAH, Phenols etc.).

The technology is based on the ability of microorganisms to release elements by changing the oxidation number and to metabolize toxic compounds in the natural cycle of elements (e.g., carbon cycle), which leads to a complete detoxification of the substrate. Toxic compounds are dangerous to humans, but not to bacteria. The microorganism can use impurities as sources of carbon, nitrogen, or other nutrients for growth. The original substrate molecule (e.g., cyanide molecule from C and N) is converted into metabolites in a catabolic process, which are then incorporated into metabolic pathways that lead to the formation of new substances or to inorganic end products (CO₂, NH₃, H₂O, etc.).

The biological degradation of toxic compounds by microorganisms is already widespread worldwide. Compared to conventional methods (chemical, thermal, physical) this is much cheaper and can be used for larger quantities with simple application in-situ.

Our different bacterial consortia microlive® can extract a wide variety of potentially toxic elements (PTE) and use toxic compounds as food and break them down into safe end products. We have registered our technology as an EU patent on ecological release of elements and degradation of organic substances using heterotrophic microorganisms, confirmed on over 50 contaminated materials and in several bioremediation projects in the EU.

You may contact us for more information – and please have a look on our leaflet on gasworks sites renovation.