Chapter 2

Bioprecipitation as a

Bioremediation Strategy for

Environmental Cleanup

Samantha M. Wilcox,¹ Catherine N. Mulligan^1,* and

Carmen Mihaela Neculita²

2.1 Introduction

The term ‘sustainable’ is generally used in today’s culture and its true significance is often not clear.

While typically used synonymously to environmentally friendly behavior, the term represents much

more. According to the United Nations (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals, ‘sustainability’

refers to social, economic and environmental action (UNDP 2022). The term ‘sustainability’, used

throughout this chapter, aligns itself with the United Nations definition.

Imperative to the achievement of ‘sustainability’ is its implementation during decision-making

processes. The introduction of ISO Lifecycle Assessment 14040 and the field of Environmental

Accounting has made it easier to adhere to sustainable practices in government and industry (ICF

Incorporated 1995, ISO 2006). These approaches aim to minimize the environmental, social and

economic impact at all stages of a product, a process or a service.

Remediation strategies, especially bio-based processes, are often considered inherently

sustainable. However, it is important to apply these principles to improve longstanding engineering

frameworks. An effective engineered clean-up strategy will appease the sustainability requirements

and offer solutions that meet both environmental and governmental regulations. This chapter focuses

on biological precipitation, also referred to as bioprecipitation as a remediation strategy for soil and

groundwater contamination. The process enhances the already naturally occurring processes. It is

therefore considered a cost effective, socially accepted and environmentally friendly technique.

This chapter aims to document and justify the necessity and highlight the sustainable nature of

bioprecipitation as a technique for environmental clean-up.

1 Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

2 Research Institute on Mines and the Environment (RIME), University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-

Noranda, Canada.

* Corresponding author: mulligan@civil.concordia.ca