Tapping into Microbial Polysaccharides for Water and Wastewater Purifications

Abstract

The critical need for water and wastewater treatment has become more crucial in recent years as a large portion of the world’s population do not have access to safe potable water sources. Currently, half a billion people worldwide do not have access to improved water sources especially in developing countries where recycling and reuse of wastewater is at its lowest ebb. This Chapter addresses the role microbial polysaccharides play in water and wastewater purification. Microbial polysaccharides are biopolymers produced by microorganisms through the utilization of simple to complex substrates. Their applications in water and wastewater treatments have made the processes of purification, less cumbersome, economical, less time consuming and ecofriendly. Microbial polysaccharides are effectively used in water purification via processes like biosorption, bioaccumulation and bioaggregation. Future developments in water and wastewater treatments will be largely intertwined with developments in microbial polysaccharides such as polysaccharide-based nanoadsorbents.