Microbial consortia for industrial waste bioremediation: an insight to related patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT There has been an exceptional rise in the number of industries in recent times, resulting in a leap in pollution caused, in addition to a large amount of waste being generated. Industrial pollution affects the entire ecosystem, predominantly the air, water, and soil. Remediation of air, water, and soil from industrial pollutants thus becomes a matter of concern due to detrimental effects. Remediation of the wastes generated by the industries has been carried out by several substances. The present research paper discusses with the use of soil microbial consortia for industrial waste bioremediation. Over the past decades studies have being emphasised on the use of microbial consortia rather than the use of individual strains, with increasing consideration given to environmental sustainability, with the aid of interdisciplinary approaches. An in-depth study has been carried out on the different microbes, used for remediation with special focus on soil microbial consortia. The manuscript also describes at length the benefits of the use of these microbes, different contaminants and wastes for which these have been tested, different kinds of microbial consortia explored, and the limitations and advantages associated with the use of these. The present work helps in understanding the use of microbial consortia as an efficient and promising biomaterial with an edge over other materials for industrial waste remediation. A brief study of the patents in the area of the use of soil microbial consortia has also been carried out in the present work. An analysis of the distribution of patents country-wise, technology main areas, patent publication trend, and top patent applicants and inventors has also been carried to give an idea of the patents pertaining to the application of soil microbial consortia.