bioremediationn.
/ˌbʌɪəʊrᵻˌmiːdɪˈeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌbaɪoʊrəˌmidiˈeɪʃən/, /ˌbaɪoʊriˌmidiˈeɪʃən/ The use of living organisms (esp. microorganisms) to consume and break down environmental pollutants (esp. from an oil spill) for the purposes of cleaning a particular area.
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1986 Chem. Week 29 Oct. 34/3 Sikes's company is one of several that offer bioremediation services based on the encouragement of organisms already on site.
1994 J. Burger Before & After Oil Spill vi. 99 Communities can be prepared to use bioremediation for oil spills in the future.
2003 Nature 3 Apr. 465/2 Bioremediation..involves using fertilizer to speed the growth of naturally occurring oil-digesting bacteria.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1986