New Bioremediation Technologies to Remove Heavy Metals and Radionuclides

Abstract

With our life being simplified through the usage of electronics, they do come with their baggage of rare earth and heavy metals, electronics is one of the major examples. The other reported sources of heavy metals in the environment include industrial, geogenic, pharmaceutical, domestic effluents, agricultural and atmospheric sources. Similarly, with the need for alternative energy compared to traditional fuels, radionuclides like uranium being a prime source of energy production in nuclear technology, some forms of these radiations are beneficial for energy generation, imaging technologies, etc. Along with the benefits, the shortcomings of the heavy metals as well as radionuclides when handled haphazardly is an alarming concern as it could be detrimental to all forms of life. Persistent deposition and leaching of heavy metals prompt a global concern to soil and water pollution. The accelerated growth of nuclear power plants has raised environmental issues associated with the usage of radionuclides. Majorly mining of these heavy metals and radionuclides leaves the areas around them heavily polluted. The solution to these issues relies on the utilization of bioremediation techniques, which are eco-friendly and economical in comparison with those of standard remediation techniques employed for heavy metal and radionuclides, which helps in reducing the toxic content of heavy metals and radionuclides. This shall avoid the creation of further by-products or reactions that would moreover need monitoring and cleansing processes. Several research studies utilize microbial, fungal, and algal strains that aid us in the bioremediation of radionuclides and heavy metals. The methodology of bioremediations majorly includes mechanisms such as bioaccumulation, biosorption, biotransformation, biomineralization are depended upon the organisms and the techniques involved. This chapter focuses solely on the emerging bioremediation technologies in the removing heavy metals and radionuclides with a sustainable approach.