Functional characterization of microbes and their association with unwanted substance for wastewater treatment processes

Nowadays, microorganisms can be used to eliminate a variety of pollutants such as toxic metal ions from wastewater. These emergences of harmful elements in wastewater, high-priced cultivation of microbes and technical hitches in industrial scale production appeared as main challenges for thriving coupling of microbes with wastewater. These microbes serve as potential sorbents by following suitable adsorption mechanisms. There are some photobioreactors have been also mentioned in this review which is based on microbial biofilm and emerged as an alternative technology to predictable photosynthetic systems for treatment of wastewater based on biomass production at low cost. Bioremediation using different microbes showed contrast results to remove heavy metals from wastewater. Microorganism such as Nostoc sp., Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus lentulus and Aspergillus niger remediate 99.6, 99.89, 99.7 and 98 % of Pb, Cr, Cu and Ni, respectively. In this review, mechanistic approaches and distinct pathways of the microbes for removal of various inorganic and organic compounds from wastewater have been methodically discussed. We have also discussed some major commercial production challenges such as techno-economic feasibility genetic engineering research and biorefinery approach. Overall the review discussed the microbial biodiversity in wastewater and their role in remediation of wastewater and their ability to be a potent candidate headed for sustainable industrial wastewater treatment applications through different approaches such as phytoremediation and bioremediation. This article provides valuable insights into multiple aspects of environmental biotechnology, including photobioreactors, metal uptake capacity of microorganisms, heavy metal contamination and its effects and bioremediation using molecular approaches and wastewater treatment through phytoremediation. Moreover, it contributes to our understanding of these topics and can help in the development of sustainable solutions for environmental remediation and pollution control in wastewater though microorganisms.

Automated summary

Nowadays, microorganisms are being utilized to remove various pollutants from wastewater, such as toxic metal ions. The challenges in coupling microbes with wastewater include the emergence of harmful elements, expensive microbial cultivation, and technical issues in industrial-scale production. Microbes serve as potential sorbents through suitable adsorption mechanisms. This review also highlights the use of photobioreactors based on microbial biofilm as an alternative technology for cost-effective biomass production in wastewater treatment.