Biotechnologies for remediation and pollution control in the mining industry

As biotechnologies emerge from laboratories into main-stream application, t he benefits they, offer are judged against competing technologies and busin ess criteria. Bioremediation technologies have passed this test and are now widely used for the remediation of contaminated soils and ground waters. B ioremediation includes several distinct techniques that are used for the tr eatment of excavated soil and includes other techniques that are used for i n situ applications. They play an important and growing role in the mining industry for cost-effective waste management and site remediation. Most app lications have been for petroleum contaminants, but advances continue to be made in the treatment of more difficult organ ic and inorganic species. Th is paper discusses the role of biotechnologies in remediation and pollution control from a mining-industry perspective. Several case studies are prese nted, including the land application of oily wastewater from maintenance wo rkshops, the composting of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils and sludges, the bioventing of hydrocarbon solvents, the intrinsic bioremediation of diesel hydrocarbons, the biotreatment of cyanide in water front a gold mine, and t he removal of manganese from acidic mine drainage.