Abstract
Contaminants, organic or inorganic, represent a threat for the environment and human health and in recent years their presence and persistence has increased rapidly. For this reason, several technologies including bioremediation in combination with nanotechnology have been explored to identify more systemic approaches for their removal from environmental matrices. Understanding the interaction between the contaminant, the microorganism, and the nanomaterials (NMs) is of crucial importance since positive and negative effects may be produced. For example, some nanomaterials are stimulants for microorganisms, while others are toxic. Thus, proper selection is of paramount importance. The main objective of this review was to analyze the principles of bioremediation assisted by nanomaterials, nanoparticles (NPs) included, and their interaction with environmental matrices. It also analyzed the response of living organisms employed to remediate the contaminants in the presence of nanomaterials. Besides, we discuss the international regulatory frame applicable to these technologies and how they might contribute to sustainability.
Highlights
The industrial revolution has promoted economic prosperity, along with releasing a variety of pollutants into the environment [1]
There are no consistent conclusions about whether the combined technologies are beneficial to improve pollutant removal efficiency and the combination of bioremediation technologies and nanomaterials to remove pollutants has not been widely reported, the main objective of this review is to examine bioremediation processes where nanomaterials are applied in order to enhance the removal of contaminants and describe their interactions with biotic and abiotic components during remediation processes and some considerations regarding the international regulatory frame and world markets are mentioned
The combination of Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) nanomaterials with electrokinetic remediation, chemical oxidation, and bioremediation has been helpful in the remediation of heavily polluted sites [55]
Summary
The industrial revolution has promoted economic prosperity, along with releasing a variety of pollutants into the environment [1]. Processes 2020, 8, 826 nanoparticles —particles with two or three dimensions greater than 1 nm—represents an innovative strategy to move the bioremediation forward beyond its limitations This combined approach can include a wider range of potential applications with reduced costs and minimum negative impacts on the environment [5] for treating pollutants in groundwater and wastewater [6], sediments polluted with heavy metals and hydrocarbons [7], and either organic or inorganic compounds in soil [8]. There are no consistent conclusions about whether the combined technologies are beneficial to improve pollutant removal efficiency and the combination of bioremediation technologies and nanomaterials to remove pollutants has not been widely reported, the main objective of this review is to examine bioremediation processes where nanomaterials are applied in order to enhance the removal of contaminants and describe their interactions with biotic and abiotic components during remediation processes and some considerations regarding the international regulatory frame and world markets are mentioned
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