Tiny microorganisms are eating the pollution in contaminated soils in Antarctica, "just like we would eat a banana."

Key points: Fuel spills are seen as inevitable in research bases in Antarctica

Fuel spills are seen as inevitable in research bases in Antarctica Microorganisms present in the soil can consume the fuel and clean the soil

Microorganisms present in the soil can consume the fuel and clean the soil The Australian Antarctic Division wants to share its findings from "mega-piles" research

The clean up efforts of these microscopic creatures are being encouraged by scientists, who have built them a massive dirt pile at Casey Station to feast in.

Scientists are tweaking the temperature, moisture and nutrient levels within these piles, dubbed "mega-piles", to make an ideal home for the microbes to thrive.

The microbes are native to Antarctica, and there are billions of them in the soil.

AAD remediation manager Tim Spedding says the microorganisms are very effective at breaking down fuel. ( Supplied: AAD )

The Australian Antarctic Division's Remediation Manager, Tim Spedding, says the bugs see fuel molecules as a source of food "just like we would eat a banana."

"They'll take that molecule and they'll break it down, and then you'll end up with by-products that are subsequently eaten by other microbes and degraded over time," he said.

"The fuel and the toxic components of the fuel are removed."

With most Antarctic stations reliant on fuel generators to keep the lights on and the buildings warm Mr Spedding said "fuel spills happen".

He said the microorganisms are very effective at cleaning up contaminated soils.

"Often we'll start with fuel in the soil of 5000 parts per million, which is quite a lot," he said.

"But within a year or two we can bring that down to less than 1000."

The pile is dug over to help keep the temperature higher. ( Supplied: Kim Ellis/AAD )

Bigger dirt pile promotes bigger feast

Over the past decade, scientists discovered that the best way of cleaning up soil contaminated with fuel is to encourage the bugs that live within the soil to eat it.

This summer they have taken their bioremediation efforts a step further by building a large dirt pile to create the ideal home for the fuel-eating microbes.

The newly-constructed "mega-pile" is 25 metres wide, 50 metres long and can hold 750 cubic metres of soil.

Remediation Engineer, Dr Rebecca McWatters, said the pile at Casey can contain six times the amount of soil as previous remediation sites.

Fuel-eating microbes under the microscope. ( Supplied: Kate Montgomery/UNSW/AAD )

"Hopefully the soil will be able to be rehabilitated quicker in the mega-pile versus the traditional bio-piles," she said.

The new pile is big enough for large excavators to be used to turn the soil.

Plant Operator, Johan Mets said the large pile had to be worked over.

"If you don't break it up then it's not going to defrost as quickly, and when the heat comes into the ground, the bugs have a chance to work the soil," he said.

Water and nutrients are manipulated within the mega-pile to encourage the organisms to multiply.

"We add specific types of fertiliser to encourage these communities to grow, try and make sure we get the best amount of water into the soil to help them break down that fuel," Mr Spedding said.

Once the soil is cleaned, it can be reused.

"Right now we're looking at reusing it around stations as part of our roads and under buildings as part of the building footprint."

"Ultimately we intend to have the remediation process complete to the point where we leave that soil unmanaged back in the Antarctic environment," Mr Spedding said.

The mega-pile at Casey can contain six times the capacity of previous remediation sites in Antarctica. ( Supplied: Anne Hellie/AAD )

Protecting a rare resource

Exposed soil in Antarctica is rare, amounting to less than 0.05 percent of the ice-covered continent.

"Those areas are also the hot spots for Antarctic biodiversity," Mr Spedding said.

"This is why Australian scientists are keen to share what they've learnt about the microbes with other Antarctic nations.

"There are a number of contaminated sites across Antarctica ranging from old legacy sites, and abandoned stations fuel spill sites.

"Our team is developing these remediation techniques so they can be applied across the entire continent."