Chapter 4 - Microbial Biofilm—a modern sustainable approach for bioremediation in 21st century

Abstract

There are significant threats to the atmosphere and public health because of the release of both organic and inorganic chemicals into the ecosystem due to domestic and industrial practices. Current traditional wastewater treatment plants are inadequate to fully eradicate pollutants, and thus more efficient and creative alternatives to treatment are commonly discussed. Bacterial biofilm-mediated wastewater treatment has demonstrated many benefits relative to other new innovations of emerging biological processes. A recent emerging topic for microbiologists to work in the fields of climate, manufacturing, agriculture, and health is microbial biofilm. In an adverse climate, biofilms increase the growth and colonization of microbes on the surface and protect cells. Recently, the potential of microbes enclosed by biofilms for bioremediation processes has been realized. In biofilms, the mutually beneficial activities of several microorganisms draw attention to xenobiotics and their application for pollutant depletion in agricultural plants. Microbial biofilms are used on a wide scale to degrade toxins in multiple bioreactors and biofilters. However, it remains difficult to establish a stable and effective biofilm-mediated remediation technology with viability for massive-scale deployment. To enhance biofilm-mediated bioremediation, an in-depth understanding of biofilm formation processes and basic mechanisms is therefore required.