What is Bioremediation? July 11, 2016 Bioremediation is cleaning up polluted areas through biological means. Bacteria, fungi, plants and other organisms break down contaminants or store them in their tissue for eventual disposal. It has become a more popular choice for the removal of traditional methods due to its less costly nature. The use of Bioremediation is most noticeable in the cases of oil spills. When a spill occurs, microbes that are native to the area are the first to react. During the Deepwater Horizon…

What are Bioplastics? July 19, 2016 Bioplastics are plastics that are made from renewable sources such as wood cellulose, wheat fiber, and corn. These plastics are compostable, breaking down as much as 60 percent or more in 180 days. Though it is compostable, bioplastics require water, heat, and air to break down, making it difficult to dispose of in landfills. Early plastics were made with the intention of replacing existing materials such as rubber, ivory, and tortoise shells. In 1869, John Wesley Hyatt treated cellulose…

What is a Bioreactor Landfill? July 11, 2016 A Bioreactor Landfill is a landfill that is used for the production of biogas at a faster rate. In this system, the refuse in the landfill has leachate, water that has been in contact with waste, to speed up the decomposition process into years rather than decades. These types are often confused with anaerobic digesters because of how both serve to produce biogas. The significant difference between these two is that unlike anaerobic digesters, a bioreactor landfill…

What is Biomass Incineration? July 25, 2016 Biomass incineration is the act of using organic refuse to create electricity. This is done by incinerating the refuse to create a stream that turns a turbine which is connected to a generator. The use of these incinerators has also served in dealing with the municipal solid waste in some areas. The use of biomass incinerators can be traced back to 1874 when the first “destructor” was built in Nottingham, Great Britain. These machines served to produce electricity…

What is Bioluminesence? July 19, 2016 Bioluminescence is the ability of an organism to biologically produce light. On land, only some organisms like fireflies or fungi are able to produce their own light. Underwater, however, this ability is common among marine life that lives deep below, such as fish, clams, and sharks. This ability is useful in deeper levels of the ocean, where little to no light penetrates, as it allows for marine life to find food, reproduce, and as a form of defence. Survival…