Bioremediation of contaminated sites using vermiremediation
Concept Biotech conceptualized the Clean Muthia project which was about cleaning heavy metal waste and remediation of the polluted patch of GIDC land near Ahmedabad.
Approximately 60,000 tons of sludge from effluent treatment plants and other untreated waste was been dumped in the Muthia village over a decade. These hazardous waste had leached into the groundwater, which has turned yellow. The cleaning and remediation of the soil were carried out using vermiculture biotechnology.
- Step 1: Clearing of 2700 tons of visible dumps
- Step 2: Treatment of Soil with Effective Microorganism and setting up of worm beds
- Step 3: Application of worm culture and plantation.
- Step 4: Final soil check-up and additional application of EM (effective microorganism and vermiacclerator) and report preparation.
The following steps were followed in vermiremediation.
The treatment process showed a severe reduction in heavy metal concentration in the Muthia village soil. The nutrient concentration did not increase substantially probably due to heavy biological activity of biological organisms (Bacteria and earthworms and other small insects) which have reduced the nutrient concentration. The project gave a wonderful insight into low-cost bio-remediation technology which was more successful with the joint work of pollution control authorities, NGO, Local community and the team from funding organization. The project got more importance when the CNN team took this pilot-scale project as one of the upcoming innovative projects for soil remediation.