Metal-oxidizing microbes and potential application in bioremediation

Abstract

Rapid development of different metal-based industries and mining activities producing huge amount of metal-laden wastes has considerably deteriorated the quality of water and soil around the globe. The application of metal-based fertilizers has further aggravated the environmental contamination multifolds. Most of the metals released into water and soil ultimately find their ways into different plants and animals causing hazardous effects. The variety of microbes dwelling in metal-contaminated water and soil has evolved different oxidative mechanisms to escape the toxicity of metals. Some of the metal-oxidizing microbes derive energy during oxidation and produce metal oxides possessing the characteristic potential to adsorb toxic metal ions. The microbes can oxidize different metals such as iron, manganese, arsenic, and antimony present in their vicinity by cellular biochemical processes and thus offer an environment-friendly option for bioremediation of metal-contaminated water and soil. Very often, the oxidized forms of metals produced by microorganisms are more efficient adsorbent as compared to chemically synthesized metal oxides. Such metal-oxidizing microorganisms developed on filter could be employed for treatment of variety of metal-laden water and wastewater. The present chapter has tried to deal with different metal-oxidizing microbes and their possibility in bioremediation. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.