Bioremediation is a process for cleaning contaminated soil or water with the help of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or algae. These microorganisms break down the pollutants in the soil or water and generally release harmless substances in the process.

Bioremediation can be divided into three steps:

1. Characterisation of the degree of contamination
   Firstly, the degree of contamination of the soil or water is determined by analysing a sample. The pollutants in the soil are determined in order to establish whether bioremediation is feasible.
2. Adaptation of the conditions
   Once the level of contamination has been characterised, the conditions must be adapted to achieve the optimum effect of the microorganisms. This includes adjusting factors such as temperature, humidity, nutrient supply and pH value. The conditions should be set so that the microorganisms can grow optimally and break down the contaminants.
3. Application of the microorganisms
   In the final step, the microorganisms are added to the contaminated soil or water. There are different types of microorganisms that can be used for bioremediation. For example, bacteria can be used, which break down the pollutants through metabolic processes, or fungi, which decompose the pollutants using their enzymes.

The advantage of bioremediation is that it is generally environmentally friendly and cost-effective. However, it is not always the most effective method for cleaning contaminated soil or water, especially if the pollutants are very toxic or difficult to break down. The duration of the process is also highly dependent on the conditions and can take months or years.

Overall, bioremediation is a promising method for cleaning contaminated soil or water and is used successfully in many cases.