Soil is an environmental matrix essential for life on Earth and constitutes a complex network capable of collecting, recycling, transforming and exchanging organic and inorganic matter, maintaining a continuous flow that sustains our biosphere.
Unfortunately, constant community and industrial anthropic activities have resulted in extensive soil contamination; according to EU data, there are 5.7 contaminated sites per 10,000 inhabitants in Europe. The most frequent contaminants include heavy metals, mineral oils, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and mixtures of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX). Currently in Italy, 53.7% of Sites of National Interest (SIN) and more than 2,000 Sites of Regional Interest (SIR) are polluted by hydrocarbons.
The solutions proposed by the EU
Soil contamination is a global concern that has pushed the EU to take the lead in fighting it; the introduction of the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 provides a solid basis for the protection and restoration of European soils. The proposed directive "Soil Monitoring Law", published on 5 July 2023, also aims to ensure effective monitoring and improve soil resilience, enabling its sustainable use. The EU has also launched projects and campaigns, including Life Bioforest, to actively address the challenge of soil contamination.
In this context, a key role is played by bioremediation, i.e., an innovative strategy based on the use of specific microorganisms and their metabolic activity to decontaminate and detoxify environmental matrices in a safe, environmentally sustainable and lasting manner.
BBA Ecotech gets in the game with MasterSoilSystem
BBA Ecotech, aware of the importance of bioremediation in mitigating the damage caused by soil contamination, has developed MasterSoilSystem, an on-site remediation technology that removes or makes pollutants harmless. It is a step-by-step process to decontaminate the soil from a wide range of hydrocarbons, petroleum derivatives, sulphides, mercaptans, nitrogen compounds and harmful organic components. MasterSoilSystem is to any type of contaminated substrate (soils, sediments, groundwater, rocks), and can be repeated as required, ensuring effective decontamination. This process involves simple steps such as:
- Evaluation of the chemical-physical analysis of the polluted soil or substrate to identify the nature and concentration of the pollutant and to assess any resistance to microbiological attack and thus biodegradability;
- Balance the inoculation of MasterSoilFUEL, a pool of microorganisms with high attack specificity, high multiplication rate and biodegradation kinetics. This product can be used for different types of matrices, such as sludge, soils, sands and algae and, in addition to effectively degrading mineral oils, solvents, aromatic hydrocarbons, it also counteracts the exhalation of odours;
- Combine MasterTensio, consisting mainly of natural surfactants (biosurfactants), which are synthesised by microorganisms of the genus Pseudomonas in fermentation processes; these substances have properties that are superior to the chemical surfactants used in common detergents, including the advantage of being absolutely biodegradable and of 'capturing' hydrocarbons in an aqueous medium in which they are practically insoluble, resulting in the formation of emulsions that adhere to the microbial cell, only to be progressively demolished by the latter through oxidation reactions;
- implement with MasterPlus, a liquid mixture of vitamins, minerals and natural plant extracts from Yucca Schidigera and seaweed; its 100% natural composition is able to stimulate the proliferation of microorganisms by rebalancing the soil ecosystem. MasterPlus alters the surface tension of water by increasing the penetration of micro-organisms, acts on numerous substances with a high olfactory impact and also captures ammonia and mercaptans, neutralising them;
The combination of these three products guarantees excellent results for effective decontamination.
Innovation, resilience and eco-sustainability
BBA Ecotech is an eco-friendly company that is resolutely looking to the future. With solid experience in the world of biotechnology applied to industry, BBA Ecotech is actively and responsibly engaged in the global challenge against soil contamination.
The use of innovative, sustainability-oriented technologies enables the formulation of reliable, safe and highly effective products that promote bioremediation. Thanks to BBA Ecotech and MasterSoilSystem, soils will be decontaminated, ready to support the biosphere again and contribute to a healthier, greener environment.
For further information, please do not hesitate to visit https://www.bbaecotech.com/en/
Sources:
- https://www.bbaecotech.com/
- https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-directive-soil-monitoring-and-resilience_en
- https://www.lifebiorest.com/
