Bacillus: As Bioremediator Agent of Major Environmental Pollutants

Abstract

Degradation of four major environmental pollutants, pesticides, explosive waste, dyes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), by Bacillus spp. have been reported by several workers. The use of these pollutants has resulted in severe contamination of the environment, and strategies are now being developed to clean these substances in an economical and eco-friendly manner. Microbes are among the main vehicles for remediation of these environmental pollutants, and Bacillus spp. are also regarded as one of the potential bioremediator agent among microbes. New discoveries, such as novel biodegradation pathways, multispecies interactions, and community-level responses to pollutants, are helping us to understand, predict, and monitor the fate of pollutants. This chapter summarizes information on the biodegradation and biotransformation pathways of four major environmental pollutants by Bacillus spp. Isolation, characterization, utilization, and manipulation of the major detoxifying enzymes and the molecular basis of degradation are also discussed. An attempt has been made to highlight the factors effecting four major environmental pollutants by Bacillus spp. This may be useful in developing safer and economically feasible microbiological methods for cleanup of soil and water contaminated with such compounds. The necessity of further investigations concerning the metabolism of these substances by Bacillus spp. is also discussed.