What is bioremediation primarily used for?

Bioremediation is primarily used for employing microorganisms to degrade or remove pollutants from the environment, particularly in contaminated soil and water. This process utilizes the natural metabolic processes of microbes to break down hazardous substances into less toxic or non-toxic forms, effectively cleansing the ecosystem of pollutants such as heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and pesticides.

The choice focusing on creating compost for soil, while related to organic matter management, does not encompass the primary aim of bioremediation, which is specifically targeted at pollution reduction. Similarly, while producing renewable energy is a significant aspect of environmental science, it is not the focus of bioremediation techniques, which concentrate on pollutant elimination. Lastly, enhancing biodiversity involves a broader scope of ecological management and conservation that may share peripheral goals with bioremediation but does not represent its core function. Thus, the use of microbes to remove pollutants stands out as the definitive application of bioremediation efforts.