Degradation of Hazardous Organic and Inorganic Waste by Microorganisms

Abstract

With the increasing population of the world and the daily life demands supplied through industries and modern industrialized agricultural systems, the need for the preservation of ecosystems is increasing day by day. Many industrial processes result in large amounts of organic waste as well as inorganic contaminants that deteriorate food and water quality. Immediate measures to avoid the negative impact on the environment are necessary. The generation of large quantities of hazardous materials in the form of heavy metals, radioactive substances, phenolic compounds, and volatile organic chemicals has resulted in the requirement for new and environmentally safe methods for their elimination. In situ degradation of hazardous organic materials by microbes is often the most cost-effective clean-up approach. Biological treatment of these hazardous wastes is potentially effective, practical, and economical. Bioremediation is measured as one of the safer, cleaner, cost-effective, and eco-friendly technologies for decontaminating sites. It uses numerous agents such as bacteria, yeast, fungi, algae, and higher plants as its main tools in treating oil spills, pesticides, radionuclides, polluted groundwater, and heavy metals existing in the environment. Currently, different methods and strategies are being applied in different parts of the world. Phytoextraction, biostimulation, fungal bioremediation, and rhizofiltration are some of the more common ones. Because of specific applications, all bioremediation techniques have their advantages and disadvantages.