Bacteria and fungi can break down a large range of substances. What is toxic to one organism can be used as food by another. Purification of wastewater makes use of this principle.
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Wastewater treatment. |
Millions of bacteria and fungi species live in the soil. Most of them occur in minute quantities because the local soil environment favours only a limited number of species. These species grow fastest and gobble up all the food available.
A soil sample containing microorganisms can be offered wastewater as its sole source of food. Only those bacteria and fungi able to digest the waste will start growing. In this way, a tool able to convert wastewater into harmless waste products will be created in a biological way.
Click here for a schematic explanation of the technology.
