INTRODUCTION.

What is Bioremediation?

Bioremediation is the branch of biotechnology that uses living organisms such as bacteria, and other microorganisms to remove toxins, contaminants, pollutants, and other things. This technique is very significant for the removal of groundwater contamination, cleaning oil spills, and others. This technique stimulates the growth of microorganisms, pesticides, and other food sources for their food, and energy. Moreover, this technique completely relies on the combination of the appropriate food, temperature, nutrients, and other things. Bioremediation can be done in situ or ex-situ. The process duration depends upon the soil density, temperature, contaminants, contaminated area, and other things. (M., 2001)

 

Types of Bioremediations.

 

Bioremediation types include microbial bioremediation, Phytoremediation, and others. Microbial remediation is the use of the microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, fungus, and others to remove the contaminants. Phytoremediation is the use of the plants, and their extracts for the removal of the contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and hydrocarbons. Whereas, phytoremediation is the use of the fungus to remove and neutralize the contaminants. For this, digestive enzymes are incorporated by the fungus to remove them. Bioremediation works with different techniques such as bio-venting, bio-slurping, biopharma, and others. (Adams, GO, 2015)

What is Biodegradation?

Biodegradation is the biologically catalyzed reduction in the complexity of the chemical compounds. In this process, organic substances are broken from the complex ones to the simpler ones with the use of living organisms. (Selvaraj V, 2021) This process needs the understanding of the microbes to make the process properly. With the metabolic or the enzymatic processes, microbial organisms transfer the substance into a less complex form. This process has two steps known as co-metabolism and growth. In the growth process, the organic pollutant is used as the sole source of carbon, and energy. This process results in the complete mineralization of the organic pollutants. Whereas, co-metabolism is the growth of the substrate that is used as the primary carbon as the energy source.

 Types of Biodegradation.

The substances that can be easily degradable by the bacteria are called biodegradable substances. Whereas the substances that are not decomposed with the action of bacteria are called non-degradable such as plastic, pesticides, metallic cans, and others. Whereas duration depends upon the type of bacteria that mediate the process of degradation. (Jain P, 2017)

Are Mummies and Fossils degradable?

A mummy is a dead human or the soft tissues, organs, or parts of the body that is preserved but either the accidental or intentional exposure to the chemicals. Or the extreme cold, very low humidity, and lack of air are used to not decay the body. The method of treating the dead body in the ancient Egyptians is called mummification. All the moisture in the body is removable in this process. Only a dried form is remaining. During the mummification process, the body becomes hydrated, and the putrefactive decomposition stops. This process is carried out in the dry or the warm air. In Egyptian history, mummification was practiced in the whole history. The earliest mummies from the previous times were accidental because of the preserved bodies buried in the dug. Then in the 2600 BCE Egyptians mediated to mummify the dead people purposely. (Mummies., 2007)

Process.

This whole process is based on seventy days. Bodies were treated with chemicals and wrapped. At that time human detailed anatomy was known, therefore, different stages were performed for the preservation of the human body. In the first process, the internal part was removed from the body and decayed rapidly. The brain was removed firstly with the use of special hooks. After that, internal organs, abdomen, chest, and other parts were removed. People at that time only place the heart in its place because they think the heart is the center of the body, it is the core of the person's intelligence and personal goods. Other organs are preserved separately, such as lungs, liver, and intestines, in the jars known as the Canopic jars. These jars were buried along with the mummies. Later on, the mummies, and organs, are wrapped and replaced inside the body. All the moisture from the body is next removed. For this natron which is salt was utilized for the covering of the body. This salt has superior great drying properties, also, additional packets are placed inside the human body. This salt mediates the reaction of preserving the human body for a long time. Once the body is completely dried, internal packets from the body are removed, and natron is washed out from the body. As the result, the body is very dried out, but it is in the recognizable form of humans. To make the mummy seem like an alive sunken part of the body filled with linen and other materials. Also, false eyes were added. After that, the wrapping of the mummies began. For this, each mummy required a hundred yards of linen. Long strips of linen wrap around the human body. In some cases, each other and each finger is wrapped with the linen. To distinguish the mummies from the others, some magical words are written on the linen wrapping. Also, the mask is placed on the person's face between the layers of the head bandages. After the numerous stages, the form was coated with the warm resin, and it was wrapped and resumed once again. In the last, the final cloth was placed so, as to secure the linen strips. Now the mummy is complete. (Mandy M, 2020)

Do Mummy Decompose?

As this process is the end of the tissue, and organs, which means that there will be no nutritional value. As the forensic anthropologist declared that this process mostly develops in the circumstances of the dry heart placed in the dry areas that have the very least humidity or the deserts. So, there will be no fluids, and all the organs are sealed from the outside of the body. Therefore, this ideal preservation method protects the body, from decomposing by microorganisms. If the salt that is used to preserve the body is washed off, and the strips are removed from the body, in that case, the body will be able to degrade by the microorganisms. (Reinhard K, 2021)

Fossils are degradable?

Fossils are the preserved traces, organs, tissues, and other parts of the body that are not degradable. Till then, 8 classes of the fossils are recognized. All of them are preserved with the numerous methods of preservation. Unaltered remains are preserved by freezing, drying, and other methods, and this mostly includes original tissues. Another fossil is the compression impression, which includes the two-dimensional flattened with or without the film coated with the organic material. Another fossil is the mold cast, which includes the three-dimensional preservation that does not include the original present. Another fossil is the recrystallization that is formed by revering to calcite or may be alerted to dolomite. This fossil preservation is because of the alterations. Another fossil is the pre mineralization, which includes the cells of the organism without the loss of the organic materials. Other fossils are molecular fossils, trace fossils, and others that are preserved with different methods. Research study shows that the fossils are mostly the hard parts of the body such as the moth, bones, and others. Mostly the microbes are unable to degrade them. As the microbes decompose, the soft tissue and other parts of the body. Hard parts of the body survive for a longer duration. (S., 2014) So, the mummies and the fossils are preserved with the use of salt and other chemicals. Therefore, the microbes are unable to decompose normally. This story beings with the king of Egypt known as the Fortin, whose body is preserved by the salt of the sea. Researchers identify that the body contains the salt traces that enable the bacteria to decompose the bacteria. Therefore, later on, they start using salts, and other chemicals to preserve the other bodies, and to preserve the useful organs of the human body. 

Conclusion.

Mummies and the fossils are non-biodegradable because of the chemicals, salt, and other preservation strategies implemented on them. But if the chemicals will wash away from the body, then only the soft tissues will be degradable, and the hard skeleton and bones will be unable to decompose because of their texture microbes will not able to decompose them.