Clean acts

Techniques used in the past to clean contaminated sites

IN-SITU (ON SITE) METHOD

Uses microorganisms to treat contaminated material at the site, as was done in the Exxon-Valdez oil spill in 1989

EX-SITU (OFF SITE) METHOD

Transporting the contaminated material from the site of contamination and using microbes for treatment. Used by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited to clean up the Chennai oil spill this year

BIOAUGMENTATION

Non-indigenous microbial species added to a contaminated site to enhance the breakdown process. Villalba de los Barros, a municipality in Spain, has been using this technique since 2012 to treat wastewater

ELECTRO-REMEDIATION

Using microbes to remove nitrates from soil. Trials conducted in South Korea in 2009 to treat nitrate-rich soil

ELECTROKINETIC BIOREMEDIATION

In-situ treatment of soil pollutants known as Hydrophobic Organic Compounds. Denmark used this technique in 2012 to degrade PCE, or Perchloroethylene, a soil contaminant