Use of micro-organism metabolism to remove pollutants, like oil spill in the water bodies, is known as:

The correct answer is Bioremediation.

Key Points

• Bioremediation is a process that uses living organisms, primarily microorganisms, to degrade environmental pollutants into less harmful forms.
• It is widely used to clean up oil spills, remove heavy metals, and treat contaminated soil and water.
• This technique relies on the natural metabolic pathways of microorganisms to break down toxic compounds into non-toxic or less harmful substances.
• Common microorganisms used in bioremediation include bacteria like Pseudomonas, fungi, and specific algae species.
• Bioremediation is considered an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods of pollution control.

Additional Information

• Types of Bioremediation:
  • In-situ bioremediation: Treating the contaminated material at the original site (e.g., bioventing, biosparging).
  • Ex-situ bioremediation: Removing the contaminated material to treat it elsewhere (e.g., biopiles, bioreactors).
• Phytoremediation: A related process where plants are used to absorb, sequester, and detoxify pollutants from soil and water.
• Biomagnification: Incorrect option as it refers to the accumulation of pollutants in organisms as they move up the food chain.
• Advantages of Bioremediation: It is less intrusive, minimizes waste, and can be tailored to specific contaminants and environments.
• Limitations: The process can be slow, and its effectiveness depends on environmental conditions like temperature, pH, and the presence of specific nutrients.