Bioremediation of environmental wastes: the role of microorganisms

Abstract

The growing rate of urbanization and industrialization has led to an increase in several types of pollution caused by the release of toxic chemicals to the environment. This is usually perpetuated by the manufacturing industry (e.g. detergent and dye), agricultural sectors (e.g. fertilizers and pesticides), mining industry (e.g. cyanide and sulphuric acid) and construction companies (e.g. cement and metals). These pollutants have adverse effects on the health of plants, animals, and humans. They also lead to the destruction of the microbial population in both aquatic and the terrestrial regions, and hence, have necessitated the need for remediation. Although different remediation methods, such as the physical and chemical methods, have been adopted for years, however, the drawbacks and challenges associated with them have promoted the use of an alternative which is bioremediation. Bioremediation involves using biological agents such as plants and microbes to remove or lessen the effects of environmental pollutants. Of the two, microbes are more utilized primarily because of their rapid growth and ability to be easily manipulated, thus enhancing their function as agents of bioremediation. Different groups of bacteria, fungi and algae have been employed to clean up various environmental pollutants. This review discusses the types, mechanisms, and factors affecting microbial bioremediation. It also recommends possible steps that could be taken to promote the use of microbes as bioremediation agents.

Nanotechnology Approaches for the Remediation of Agricultural Polluted Soils

“…Nanobioremediation has gained acceptance as a versatile tool for long-term environmental restoration . According to recent developments, bioremediation currently offers an economically viable and environmentally beneficial way to remove contaminants from the environment . The three main bioremediation techniques are microbial, plant, and enzyme-mediated remediation.…”

“…Nanoparticles generated biologically from microbes or plant extracts are used in nanobioremediation to remove pollutants from land and water. Over the past 20 years, nanomaterials have emerged as strong contenders to replace traditional therapeutic approaches because of their high efficacy, affordability, and environmental friendliness …”

“…Chemical, physical, and biological methods have been used to extract heavy metals from the environment. The soil microbial ecosystem is destroyed, and physical and chemical rehabilitation methods are expensive and have a negative impact on the soil texture …”

Can Lagoons Serve as a Quaternary Treatment for Micropollutants in Wastewater Treatment Plants? Recent Implications for Compliance with the New Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive

“…However, microbial degradation is considered the most important process. It metabolizes a wide range of organic compounds and significantly reduces the presence and impact of micropollutants [12]. The efficiency of these processes varies depending on the nature of the compound, the environmental conditions, and the microbial community present.…”

A review article on the microbes used for industrial and waste water treatment purposes

“…The industrial effluents and debris that are ejected into water and soil can be eradicated using bacterias, algae and fungi. 10,11 In a case study conducted in Indonesia on the bioremediation of liquid waste oil collected from liquid waste petroleum oil and gas companies Prabumulih South Sumatra, Indonesia, the process of bioremediation and its rate were analysed. 12 In addition, the ability of Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus cereus in bioremediation of crude oil and petroleum was studied, in which P.putida degraded 60% of the oil from water sample within 7 days, 13 thus makes them a best bioremediation tool for treating oil contaminated water bodies.…”