Microbial Bioformulation Technology for Applications in Bioremediation

Microbial bioformulation technology is an environmentally friendly approach involving the preparation of biologically active microorganisms within a carrier matrix. Bioformulation technology has been used extensively in agriculture, to bioformulate beneficial microorganisms (i.e. plant growth promoters, soil fertility enhancers and biocontrol agents) to prolong their shelf-life, enhance survival and protect the microorganisms against limiting soil conditions. In this chapter, the application of bioformulation for bioremediation is presented. A suitable bioformulation is expected to allow successful microbial delivery, and these beneficial microorganisms could degrade, detoxify or immobilize the pollutant. A good choice of carrier material will stabilize the bioformulation, prolong the shelf-life of microbial inoculants and protect them from other extrinsic factors, especially during storage and transportation. This chapter, therefore, highlights the different bioformulation technologies, including solid- and liquid-based bioformulation, and the use of different carrier materials, focusing mainly on the characteristics of carriers, effectiveness, the shelf-life of bioformulation, and their advantages and disadvantages. The application of the bioformulated microbial agents for soil and water bioremediation will also be discussed. Lastly, this chapter will also summarize their current status in the market, the challenges in bioformulation development, the prospects and the opportunity for new bioformulation technology to be explored.