20 - Nanotechnology: A promising tool for Bioremediation

Abstract

In the 21st century, the most challenging threat is environmental pollution and its impact on climate change. Researchers and scientists aim to minimize contamination due to the rapid expansion of industrialization, urbanization, and modern agricultural practices and its consequences in the degradation of water, soil, and air quality. These pollutants adversely affect human health and the surrounding environment, and also destroy biodiversity, causing an ecological imbalance. In the current scenarios, the biggest challenge to researchers is the removal of contaminants with a competent cost-effective technology that is ecofriendly, sustainable, and economically adoptable to control hazardous pollutants such as heavy metals present in the surrounding environment. Nanobioremediation has a key role to play in addressing the huge variety of environmental problems with inventive and effective solutions. Nanobioremediation is an evolving method for the remediation of multiple dangerous pollutants using biologically synthesized biosynthetic nanoparticles. It is a cost-effective, competent technology to control hazardous pollutants in the air, soil and water. In addition to being less poisonous to microbes, the microbial function of the poisonous scrap product is also enhanced, which decreases the overall energy use and overall expenditure. This chapter reviews different approaches such as detection, purification, and clean up to reduce and minimize the various hazardous pollutants in the surrounding environment.