Groundbreaking research on soil reduces pollution

Increasing the number of microbes in soil can improve biodegradation and reduce the effects of pollution according to research being carried out by Professor Steve Banwart of the University of Sheffield.

If there are too many pollutants in soil the food grown in it may contain traces of chemicals and the groundwater can be contaminated. It has long been recognised that micro-organisms contribute to biodegradation and break down these pollutants, which is why Professor Banwart of the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering was keen to conduct research aimed at increasing their numbers in soil.

He is carrying out a number of studies as part of the Cell-Mineral Interface research programme. It brings together a world-class multi-disciplinary research team of biologists, geologists, chemists, engineers, materials scientists, physicists and mathematical modellers. Their aim is to broaden our understanding of the way microbes interact with the natural environment.

The programme is primarily funded by £1.4 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council with additional support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the University of Sheffield.

"What our research does is to put biotechnology underground and treat soil as a biological reactor," says Professor Banwart.

He adds that, "Critical to our thinking is harnessing the soil and the genetic potential of the wide range of organisms in it, to help process bacteria and improve the degradation of pollutants."

The programme is part of the FIRSTFARADAY Partnership on Remediation of Polluted Environments, an EU centre of excellence with leading UK research institutions, technology transfer specialists and key government and industry research users.

"We have established Sheffield as the leader in the UK in the Cell-Mineral Interface and this is important internationally," says Professor Banwart who went on to say, "It is an area closely related to people's lives, and the key achievement for us has been in attracting significant funding to conduct our research."


For further information, please contact Professor Steve Banwart at:

tel: 0114 222 5742

email : s.a.banwart@sheffield.ac.uk