Bioremediation - the use of microorganisms for environmental clean-up - is a technology that is experiencing a rapid phase of development. From the opening chapter of Perspectives in Bioremediation, on the nature of environmental site assessment, on to the genetic manipulation of native soil microorganisms, the international collection of authors provide an understanding of the current progress and limitations of technologies that are designed to help nature herself. The book draws together many different aspects of environmental remediation: the environmental engineer is introduced to the bacteria of contaminated environments and the ideas developing from genetic engineering; the environmental microbiologist can grasp site assessment and the predictive kinetic analysis of potentials. The book provides a clear and concise introduction to the nature of and potential for bioremediation to contribute to a critical global effort in eliminating contamination of the world's resources and to start to reverse decades of environmental mismanagement and neglect.

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Introduction. 1. Environmental Site Assessments and Bioremediation; J.G. Ham, J.S. Bonner. 2. Microbial Ecology of Contaminated Sites; C.S. Jacobsen, R.R. Gayazov. 3. Predictive Models for the Efficacy of Bioremediation; F. Briganti, et al. 4. Rates and Dynamics of Bioremediation; S.D. Varfolomeyev. 5. Microorganisms Involved in the Biodegradation of Organic Compounds; L. Golovleva. 6. Microbial Resources for Bioremediation of Sites Polluted by Heavy Metals; M. Mergeay. 7. Bioconversion and Removal of Metals and Radionuclides; F. Baldi, et al. 8. Adaptation: Dynamics of Genes, Enzyme Activities and Populations; F. Baldi, et al. 9. Protein Engineering for Improved Biodegradation of Recalcitrant Pollutants; J.R. Mason, et al. Index.