A review on mitigation of emerging contaminants in an aqueous environment using microbial bio-machines as sustainable tools: Progress and limitations

Abstract

In recent years, the management and mitigation of emerging contaminants (ECs) and pollutants in the environment engaging various bioresources has been an incipient focus of research. The advancement of distinct processes to furnish definite requirements is immensely explored in the literature. The occurrence of manifold emerging pollutants (EPs) and the choice of a specific resource or a system to handle such xenobiotics is a challenge. Various strategies can be combined with prevailing remediation technologies to eliminate emerging contaminants from the environment effectively. However, the employment of microbial bio-machines to mitigate ECs receives a priority due to its renewable and eco-friendly approach over other chemical treatments. Microbial bioremediation and mitigatory strategies are impacted by numerous factors and operational settings in scaled-up treatments. This review focuses on the impacts of ECs on humans and ecosystems, the implication of various groups of microbes (Bacteria, Fungi, and Algae) as natural bio-machines, and systems for handling ECs in the aqueous environment. The mitigation mechanisms of selected microbial bio-machines and the merits along with challenges in mitigating ECs using unique strategies are also discussed.