Ecofriendly Application of Nanomaterials: Nanobioremediation

Abstract

Nanomaterials exhibit unique physical and chemical properties and, hence, they have received much attention from scientists and researchers in different areas of environmental sciences, specifically in bioremediation. Bioremediation provides a good clean-up strategy for some types of waste, but as it is expected, it will not be useful for all. For example, bioremediation may not provide a feasible strategy at sites with high concentrations of chemicals that are toxic to most microorganisms. These include heavy metals and salt. Further, the advancement in science and technology has increased standard of living which directly or indirectly contributes to the increase in waste and toxic material. Therefore, the remediation of contaminants by use of existing technology is not effective and efficient in cleaning up the environment. Hence, nanomaterials may be applied for bioremediation, which will not only have less toxic effect on microorganisms, but will also improve the microbial activity of the specific waste and toxic material which will reduce the overall time consumption as well as reduce the overall cost. In this paper we have briefly summarized the major types of nanomaterials that have been used so far in bioremediation of waste and toxic materials.

Bioremediation techniques–classification based on site of application: principles, advantages, limitations and prospects

“…The use of nanomaterials could help reduce the toxicity of pollutant to microorganisms. Nanomaterials increase surface area and lower activation energy, thereby increasing the efficiency of microorganisms in degradation of waste and toxic materials, resulting in overall reduction in remediation time and cost (Rizwan et al 2014 ).…”

Bioremediation Techniques for Polluted Environment: Concept, Advantages, Limitations, and Prospects

“…Further, derivative pathway of genetically engineering microorganisms with a target polluted compound using biological approach could increase bioremediation efficiency. Nanomaterials decline the toxicity of pollutant to microorganisms because nanomaterials having increase surface area and lower activation energy, which reduce time and cost of bioremediation [39].…”

Low Dimensional Nanostructures: Measurement and Remediation Technologies Applied to Trace Heavy Metals in Water

“…The study conducted on plant species such as Centaurea virgata, Scariola orientalis, Noaea mucronata, Chenopodium album, Cydonia oblonga, Reseda lutea, and Salix excelsa revealed that these plants are very good heavy metal accumulators. Specifically, Noaea mucronata is a suitable accumulator for Pb to a level higher than 1000 ppm [86].…”