BIOREM project begins soil sampling activities in Slovenia

In the last weeks, the BIOREM project has launched the first field activities related to the Characterization of Polluted Sites, with initial soil sampling conducted in the area of Lendava and Maribor (Slovenia).

This work is part of the project objective to provide experimental partners with samples from selected contaminated sites, and to characterize them physically, chemically, and biochemically. Based on an initial evaluation, the most suitable sub-areas within a site will be selected for further sampling, in order to gather additional material for laboratory testing.

A collaborative effort

The sampling campaign was carried out through a collaborative effort between key BIOREM partners: Alenka Mubi Zalaznik (Limnos Ltd.), Ales Lapanje, (Jozef Stefan Institute) and Rocío Barros (ICCRAM University of Burgos), senior researcher currently on secondment in Slovenia.

This work was also made possible thanks to the support of local collaborators:

• ZAG – Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (Primož Oprčkal)

• Pomgrad, one of Slovenia’s leading construction companies.

Characterization of Polluted Sites

This work plays a crucial role in the BIOREM project, serving as the foundation for all subsequent bioremediation research and development. The main purpose of these activities is to thoroughly analyze and understand the characteristics of contaminated environments, so that bioremediation strategies can be adapted to real-world conditions. We are focused on:

• Collecting representative samples from selected polluted sites

• Physicochemical and biochemical characterization of soils and other materials to identify contaminants, nutrient content, pH, redox conditions, and other critical environmental variables

• Assessing factors that may influence the success of bioremediation processes, such as temperature, moisture, or soil structure

• Isolating microbial communities through enrichment cultures to study naturally occurring microorganisms capable of degrading pollutants

• Developing preliminary mathematical models to simulate the impact of pollutants on microbial populations and to estimate the potential efficiency of proposed bioremediation approaches

These initial activities are essential to select the most promising sampling areas, guide laboratory testing, and design robust and site-specific bioremediation interventions. This first round of sampling in Lendava (Slovenia) marks a significant milestone in the project and sets the stage for the experimental work that will follow.

BIOREM is funded under the Horizon Europe programme and brings together multidisciplinary partners to advance the field of bioremediation and environmental restoration.

Stay tuned for updates as laboratory analysis begins and more sampling activities are planned across other locations.