Book excerpt: With petroleum-related spills, explosions, and health issues in the headlines almost every day, the issue of remediation of petroleum and petroleum products is taking on increasing importance, for the survival of our environment, our planet, and our future. This book is the first of its kind to explore this difficult issue from an engineering and scientific point of view and offer solutions and reasonable courses of action. This book will guide the reader through the various methods that are used for the bioremediation of petroleum and petroleum products. The text is easy to read and includes many up-to-date and topical references. This book introduces the reader to the science and technology of biodegradation—a key process in the bioremediation of petroleum and petroleum-based contaminants at spill sites. The contaminants of concern in the molecularly variable petroleum and petroleum products can be degraded under appropriate conditions. But the success of the process depends on the ability to determine the necessary conditions and establish them in the contaminated environment. Although the prime focus of the book is to determine the mechanism, extent, and efficiency of biodegradation, it is necessary to know the composition of the original petroleum or petroleum product. The laws of science dictate what can or cannot be done with petroleum and petroleum products to ensure that biodegradation (hence, bioremediation) processes are effective. The science of the composition of petroleum and petroleum products is at the core of understanding the chemistry of biodegradation and bioremediation processes. Hence, inclusion of petroleum analyses and properties along with petroleum product analyses and properties is a necessary part of this text. Bioremediation of Petroleum and Petroleum Products: Summarizes the pros and cons of remediation of petroleum and petroleum-based products, from an environmental perspective Gives examples of unethical behavior and how they should be corrected Offers arguments and elucidates engineering considerations on all sides of these difficult environmental and economic issues