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.

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

The occurrence of heavy metals in the environment, even in traces, represents a severe risk for the ecosystems and can be dangerous to human health. However, a better understanding of the main aspects involved is still needed to reduce its negative impact on the environment and health. This book covers the recent methods used for the evaluation of heavy metal pollution and the identification of its sources, descriptions of some of the processes involved in its mobility and transport, attempts to address health and environmental effects of heavy metals pollution, and presents alternative technologies for its removal and remediation from environmental samples. Therefore, this book is recommended for experts in the comprehensive management of metal contamination in different environmental compartments.

The pollution of soil and groundwater by harmful chemical compounds and heavy metals is becoming very serious in many countries. Although remediation is necessary as soon as possible, the performance of conventional bioremediation processes is not sufficient. This book deals with advances in bioremediation and phytoremediation processes by using excellent strains and a combination of processes. In the chapters of this book, the researchers have introduced the overall status of contamination; the characteristics of bioremediation using halobacteria, Candida yeast, and autochthonous bacteria; and phytoremediation using macrophytes. Moreover, other researchers introduced a process using biochar and electric currents, and this combination of processes and phytoremediation enhances the overall process.

Meet the challenge of contaminated soil with a range of sustainable tools The remediation of soils which have been polluted by trace metals is an increasingly significant environmental challenge in an industrialized global economy. The ongoing revolution in green technologies, however, has seen a range of sustainable methods emerge for remediating soils, water, and other aspects of the environment polluted by trace metals. By putting them into practice, environmental researchers and industrial professionals will be able to improve soil and groundwater quality and public health globally. Remediation of Heavy Metals offers a clear, accessible reference on these methods and their applications. It offers an overview of the major effects of heavy metal contamination and works through each of the methods or protocols available to remediate soil and minimize pollution at the source. Remediation of Heavy Metals readers will also find: Comparison of different absorption materials for heavy metal removal Detailed discussion of physical, chemical, and biological remediation methods Case studies demonstrating proper remediation Remediation of Heavy Metals provides key knowledge for environmental scientists, environmental toxicologists, and other researchers or industrial professionals working in soil remediation, as well as advanced graduate students in these areas.

SOIL BIOREMEDIATION A practical guide to the environmentally sustainable bioremediation of soil Soil Bioremediation: An Approach Towards Sustainable Technology provides the first comprehensive discussion of sustainable and effective techniques for soil bioremediation involving microbes. Presenting established and updated research on emerging trends in bioremediation, this book provides contributions from both experimental and numerical researchers who provide reports on significant field trials. Soil Bioremediation instructs the reader on several different environmentally friendly bioremediation techniques, including: Bio-sorption Bio-augmentation Bio-stimulation Emphasizing molecular approaches and biosynthetic pathways of microbes, this one-of-a-kind reference focuses heavily on the role of microbes in the degradation and removal of xenobiotic substances from the environment and presents a unique management and conservation perspective in the field of environmental microbiology. Soil Bioremediation is perfect for undergraduate students in the fields of environmental science, microbiology, limnology, freshwater ecology and microbial biotechnology. It is also invaluable for researchers and scientists working in the areas of environmental science, environmental microbiology, and waste management.

The pollution of soil and groundwater by heavy metals and other chemicals is becoming a serious issue in many countries. However, the current bioremediation processes do not often achieve sufficient remediation, and more effective processes are desired. This book deals with advances in the bioremediation of polluted soil and groundwater. In the former chapters of this book, respected researchers in this field describe how the optimization of microorganisms, enzymes, absorbents, additives and injection procedures can help to realize excellent bioremediation. In the latter chapters, other researchers introduce bioremediation processes that have been performed in the field and novel bioremediation processes. Thus, the readers will be able to obtain new ideas about effective bioremediation as well as important information about recent advances in bioremediation.

Heavy metals are severe environmental pollutants, and many of them are toxic even at very low concentrations. With industrial development, soil pollution with heavy metal elements have dramatically increased. The uptake of heavy metals via plants that are exposed to contaminated soils is a risk for human health and a major hazard for the ecosystem as a whole, including soil microorganisms. On the other hand, plants may be used in the decontamination of soils. The topics presented in this book include: sources of heavy metals contaminants in soils; plant species that can grow on contaminated soils; the phytoremediation of contaminated soils; tolerance, accumulation and detoxification mechanisms of zinc, copper, arsenic, cadmium and vanadium in plants; the critical role of sulfur metabolism in heavy metal tolerance; the role of aquatic macrophytes, plant growth-promoting bacteria, sugar crops and earthworms in detoxification; and heavy metal stabilization by promoting zeolite synthesis in soils.

Heavy metal pollution represents a global challenge to both public health and environmental sustainability. Any means to reduce heavy metal pollution in the environment is of considerable economic significance. The use of green plants to clean up heavy metal pollution is an environmentally friendly as well as a low-cost approach to the problem. This plant-based biotechnology is commonly known as ‘phytoremediation’. Presently, there is limited application of this technology because useful plants with enhanced heavy metal resistance/tolerance are still needed to assist remediation of environments polluted with heavy metals. A key to improved phytoremediation of heavy metal pollution lies in research seeking for a better understanding of the mechanism(s) of heavy metal resistance/tolerance in plants. This E-book presents a unique treatment of the topics that have never been comprehensively brought together before in a single advanced reference. The volume explores aspects of plant biology that are critical for employing phytoremedation techniques to combat heavy metal contamination such as the specific plant biology, seed biology, plant tissue culture and enzymology. This E-book will be a useful reference to plant biologists, biotechnologists and environmental engineers seeking information about phytoremediation of heavy metals from the environment.