Water and land are precious natural resources for the agricultural activities, which are prerequisite for any civilization. Rapid industrialization and urbanization exploit and severely pollute these resources. The organic and inorganic pollutants generate an unfavourable environment for the survival of aquatic flora and fauna by affecting the aquatic ecosystems. The increasing urbanization, industrial revolution, advancement of technologies, etc. are the reasons for increased pollution level. Smoke and dust particles pollute the air, solid waste pollutes the land, and in the same way industrial discharge, municipal sewage, and domestic wastewater pollute the water resources (streams, lakes, oceans, groundwater). Heavy metals naturally occur within the earth’s crust but presently due to several manmade activities, they pool-up at certain places and hamper the natural constitution and function of natural resources they invade. The natural sources of heavy metal intrusion are weathering of minerals, volcanic eruptions, overexploitation of underground resources, etc., which cause heavy metals of underlying rocks to leach into the groundwater, whereas man-made sources are smelting, mining, industries, sludge selling, agricultural use of serious metals in fertilizers and pesticides and many more. Some of the heavy metals like Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, and Chromium are one of the culprits for global warming and destroying the atmospheric ozone with atmospheric methane, nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide. Environmental contamination by heavy metals is a serious problem throughout the world. The addition of toxic heavy metals in the ecosystem may lead to its bioaccumulation, geo-accumulation, and biomagnification. The heavy metals can be removed by using some common conventional treatment processes. Physicochemical removal processes such as adsorption, ion exchange, membrane filtration, reverse osmosis etc. are used to remove heavy metals. Biological treatments using microorganisms include methods such as activated sludge, trickling filters, stabilization ponds etc. Biosorption and phytoremediation are promising, low cost, eco-friendly best solution for removal of heavy metals. The phytoremediation applications can be classified based on contaminant fate: degradation, extraction, containment or combination of these. Phytoremediation applications can be classified based on mechanisms involved. Such mechanisms include extraction of contaminant from soil or groundwater; concentration of contaminants in plant tissue, degradation of contaminants by various biotic and abiotic processes; volatilization or transpiration of volatile contaminants from plants into air, immobilization of contaminants in root zone etc. The present book Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals from Industrial Effluent by Aquatic Plants focuses on preliminary screening of aquatic macrophytes having phytoremediation potential, selection of two specific hyperaccumulator species for phytoremediation, screening of heavy metals accumulation potential and biochemical constituents of selected plant species involving heavy metal treatment, assessing heavy metal accumulation potential, physio-chemical and phytochemical parameters with a treatment of electroplating industry effluent, measuring the phytoremediation efficiency of two selected plant species by in situ experiments, assessing the physico-chemical characteristics of contaminated water treated with two selected plant species, and heavy metal accumulation in biomass by both the species. The book would be a ready reference guide for pollution control board authorities, industry managers, and remediation specialists, to prevent the further degradation and deterioration of contaminated sites using remediator plant species for retaining inviolability for pliant sustainability.

BIOPROSPECTING OF PLANT BIODIVERSITY FOR INDUSTRIAL MOLECULES A comprehensive collection of recent translational research on bioresource utilization and ecological sustainability Bioprospecting of Plant Biodiversity for Industrial Molecules provides an up-to-date overview of the ongoing search for biodiverse organic compounds for use in pharmaceuticals, bioceuticals, agriculture, and other commercial applications. Bringing together work from a panel of international contributors, this comprehensive monograph covers natural compounds of plants, endophyte enzymes and their applications in industry, plant bioprospecting in cosmetics, marine bioprospecting of seaweeds, and more. Providing global perspectives on bioprospecting of plant biodiversity, the authors present research on enzymes, mineral micro-nutrients, biopesticides, algal biomass, and other bioactive molecules. In-depth chapters assess the health impacts and ecological sustainability of the various biomolecules and identify existing and possible applications ranging from ecological restoration to production of essential oils and cosmetics. Other topics include, bio-energy crops as alternative fuel resources, the role of plants in phytoremediation of industrial waste, and the industrial applications of endophyte enzymes. This comprehensive resource: Includes a through introduction to plant biodiversity and bioprospecting Will further the knowledge of application of different plants and improve research investigation techniques. Summarizes novel approaches for researchers in food science, microbiology, biochemistry, and biotechnology Bioprospecting of Plant Biodiversity for Industrial Molecules is an indispensable compendium of biological research for scientists, researchers, graduate and postgraduate students, and academics in the areas of microbiology, food biotechnology, industrial microbiology, plant biotechnology, and microbial biotechnology.

New Trends in Removal of Heavy Metals from Industrial Wastewater covers the applicable technologies relating to the removal of heavy metals from wastewater and new and emerging trends in the field, both at the laboratory and industrial scale. Sections explore new environmentally friendly technologies, the principles of sustainable development, the main factors contributing to heavy metal removal from wastewater, methods and procedures, materials (especially low-cost materials originated from industrial and agricultural waste), management of wastewater containing heavy metals and wastewater valorization, recycling, environmental impact, and wastewater policies for post heavy metal removal. This book is an advanced and updated vision of existing heavy metal removal technologies with their limitations and challenges and their potential application to remove heavy metals/environmental pollutants through advancements in bioremediation. Finally, sections also cover new trends and advances in environmental bioremediation with recent developments in this field by an application of chemical/biochemical and environmental biotechnology. - Outlines the fate and occurrence of heavy metals in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) and potential approaches for their removal - Describes the techniques currently available for removing heavy metals from wastewater - Discusses the emerging technologies in heavy metal removal - Covers biological treatments to remove heavy metals - Includes the valorization of heavy metal containing wastewater

This book offers present-day retrospectives and future perspectives on ‘phytobiont’ studies in the context of phyto-micro restitution, filling some of the information gaps in this promising research field. It discusses several ecosystem restitution strategies using dissimilar groups of microbes alone or in association with plants, as well as advances in metagenomics technology for studying in situ micro and macro communities in contaminated soil. It addresses topics such as the status quo, and the perspectives of microbial researchers and scientists, foresters, students, environmentalists, agriculturists and professional engineers. The rising pollution levels caused by xenobiotics is one of the biggest problems of our times, and as such the book comprehensively elaborates the latest research in this field and describes how the issue can be tackled using micro-organisms. With detailed diagrams and illustrations, the book is a valuable resource for experts and novices in the field of microbial bioremediation, phyto-bioremediation and environmental microbiology

Phytorestoration of Abandoned Mining and Oil Drilling Sites presents case studies and the latest research on the most effective methods to address the large amounts of waste materials released due to mining and oil drilling. In particular, phytoremediation is described as a novel, eco-friendly, cost-effective method for extracting toxic compounds by plants for the restoration of contaminated sites. Plantings on these contaminated areas lead to the removal of toxic substances such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons, improvement in the physicochemical and biological properties of the soil, long-term forest ecosystem rehabilitation, restoration of ecosystem productivity, stability and biological diversity, and reductions in CO2. Utilizing worldwide examples, this book discusses the potential of phytoremediation as an ideal solution for sites contaminated by mining and oil drilling sites. Includes exploration of efficient plants for restoring contaminated former mining and oil drilling sites Addresses adverse impacts of toxicants released from mining activities on living organisms, including human health Presents characteristics of contaminated former mining and oil drilling sites

Bioremediation is an eco-friendly, cost-effective and natural technology targeted to remove heavy metals, radionuclides, xenobiotic compounds, organic waste, pesticides etc. from contaminated sites or industrial discharges through biological means. Since this technology is used in in-situ conditions, it does not physically disturb the site unlike conventional methods i.e. chemical or mechanical methods.

Pollution and ways to combat it have become topics of great concern for researchers. One of the most important dimensions of this global crisis is wastewater, which can often become contaminated with heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, which are released from different industrial wastes, mines, and agricultural runoff. Bioremediation of such heavy metals has been extensively studied using different groups of bacteria, fungi, and algae, and has been considered as a safer, eco-friendly, and cost-effective option for mitigation of contaminated wasteland. The toxicity of water impacts all of society, and so it is of great importance that we understand the better, cleaner, and more efficient ways of treating water. Recent Advancements in Bioremediation of Metal Contaminants is a pivotal reference source that explores bioremediation of pollutants from industrial wastes and examines the role of diverse forms of microbes in bioremediation of wastewater. Covering a broad range of topics including microorganism tolerance, phytoremediation, and fungi, the role of different extremophiles and biofilms in bioremediation are also discussed. This book is ideally designed for environmentalists, engineers, policymakers, academicians, researchers, and students in the fields of microbiology, toxicology, environmental chemistry, and soil and water science.

This second and expanded edition of the first book on agromining (phytomining) presents a comprehensive overview of the metal farming & recovery of the agromining production chain. Agromining is an emerging technology that aims to transform the extraction of sources of target elements not accessible by traditional mining and processing techniques. Agromining, which is based on sustainable development, uses hyperaccumulator plants as 'metal crops' farmed on sub-economic soils or minerals wastes to obtain valuable target elements. This volume is edited and authored by the pioneers in the rapidly expanding field of agromining and presents the latest insights and developments in the field. This book provides in-depth information on the global distribution and ecology of hyperaccumulator plants, their biogeochemical pathways, the influence of rhizosphere microbes, the physiology and molecular biology of hyperaccumulation, as well as aspects of propagation and conservation of these unusual plants. It describes the agronomy of metal crops and opportunities for incorporating agromining into rehabilitation and mine closure, including test cases for agromining of nickel, cobalt, manganese, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, zinc, thallium, rare earth elements and platinum group elements. Since the first edition was published, there have successful nickel agromining field trials in the tropics (in Malaysia and Guatemala), and these are presented in a dedicated case study chapter. Other new chapters focus on the processing of bio-ore for elements other than nickel, such as rare earth elements and cadmium, and on agromining from industrial wastes such as tailings, and industrial by-products and sites. Furthermore, the book features two new chapters that provide a comprehensive assessment of accumulation a very wide range elements from the Periodic Table in various plant species around the globe, and a chapter on practical methods for discovery of hyperaccumulator plant species in the field and in the herbarium. This book is of interest to environmental professionals in the minerals industry, government regulators, and academics.

Phytoremediation: Biotechnological Strategies for Promoting Invigorating Environs focuses on phytoremediation's history, present and future potential, discussing mechanisms of remediation, different types of pollutant and polluted environs, cell signaling, biotechnology, and molecular biology, including site-directed DNA and the omics related to plant sciences. Sections focus on phytoremediation as an economically feasible and environmentally safe strategy, including its mechanisms from macroscopic to microscopic level, strategies of assisted phytoremediation, the role of omics on innovations on the field, the development of genetically modified plants (GMPs) to deal with pollutants, the future prospects of targeted genetic engineering in phytoremediation and remediation advantages and disadvantages. Other sections in the book explore the phytoremediation of specific environs (water and soil) and specific contaminants that are of major worldwide concern. - Presents phytoremediation mechanisms at a microscopic level (molecular mechanisms) - Covers remediation in different environs and in different kinds of pollutants - Conveys the economic aspects relating to phytoremediation

Phytoremediation aids to augment bioremediation as it uses broad range plants to remediate soil, sediment, surface water and ground water that have been contaminated with toxic metals, organic, pesticides and radionuclides. This book serves to disseminate detailed up to date knowledge regarding the various aspects of phytoremediation and plant-microbe interaction. The book highlights process and molecular mechanisms for industrial waste detoxification during phytoremediation in wetland plants, role of endophytic bacteria for phytoremediation of environmental pollutants, constructed wetland treatment system for treatment and recycling of hazardous wastewater, amongst other relevant topics. Key Features: Focuses on phytoremediation process for different pollutants, mainly heavy metal detoxification in the presence of other co-pollutants. Includes plant-soil-microbe interactions in phytoremediations and remediation of contaminated water. Explores life cycle assessment of industrial waste contaminated site with organic pollutants. Discusses hyperaccumulator versus non-hyperaccumulator plants for environmental waste management. Includes bacterial assisted phytoremediation and siderophore formation in specific environmental conditions.