Chapter 13 - Prospects of algae and bacteria in the remediation of hazardous metals from wastewater

Abstract

Increased industrial activities have contributed majorly toward the generation of wastewater comprising hazardous heavy metals. These are invariably released into the water bodies like rivers and streams. Microorganisms such as bacteria and algae play pivotal role in remediating these heavy metals through their inherent mechanisms of bioaccumulation and biosorption. Although laboratory studies have described the remediation of heavy metals via bacteria and algae in small setups. But remediation of heavy metals in actual wastewater is difficult because of its complex nature (multiple organic and inorganic contaminants are present simultaneously) and hence the heavy metal removal efficiency of bacteria and algae decreases drastically. This chapter mainly focused on the studies describing metal removal efficacies of bacteria and algae in synthetic and actual wastewaters. In addition to this, studies highlighting various bioreactor systems, their configuration, and their optimization for improved remediation have also been included. Moreover, it was also realized that further research is important to understand the insights of process mechanisms, selection of best microbial strains, and development of suitable bioreactors for efficient removal of heavy metals.