Chapter 16 - Integration of bacterial and algal metabolic repertoire in the removal of heavy metals from wastewater

Abstract

Heavy metals, normal constituents of the Earth, portrayed by their somewhat high nuclear mass and their high density are beneficial to the living system but are harmful at high concentrations. Aimless use of up-to-date science for human purposes has modified their geochemical cycles and biochemical balance. This led to the increased abundance of heavy metals, for example, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, and so forth, into the soil and aquatic systems. An increasing interest is conveyed on the remediation of these dangerous components from wastewater because of the shrinking of worldwide freshwater assets. High cost as well as some degree of poisonous sludge generation and sludge disposable issues of generally utilized strategies have driven researchers to investigate other plausible and economical choices to remediate these components. In this aspect the use of huge microbial metabolic repertoire is promising, as microbes have coexisted with the geochemistry of Earth from their origin and thus have evolved the capability to interact with various minerals controlling their environmental fate. Therefore present scientific investigations have coupled microbial resources to other methods to develop efficient techniques for evacuating ecologic poisons. The microbial biotransformation of heavy metals into nontoxic structures is well studied. In this perspective, this chapter summarizes the capacities of different microorganisms such as bacteria and algae to limit and remediate heavy metals from wastewater. An evaluation of the current status of innovation and proposals for future bioremediation research has too been incorporated. [Display omitted]