Bioremediation and Biotechnology, Vol 3: Persistent and Recalcitrant Toxic Substances

Healthy environment is essential for all biota on Earth, but pollution alters its quality by changing physico-chemical and biological aspects. Toxic metals, combustible and putrescible substances, hazardous wastes, explosives, and petroleum products are examples of inorganic and organic compounds that cause contamination. Traditional treatment techniques offer advantages but have high operational costs, energy consumption, and handling costs for sludge disposal. Bioremediation and biotechnology are promising, environmental-friendly, and affordable approaches to clean up, stabilize, and restore contaminated ecosystems. Microbes, algae, transgenic plants, and weeds adapted to stressful environments can be employed to enhance accumulation efficiency. Sustainable and inexpensive processes are fast emerging as a viable alternative to conventional remediation methods, particularly for developing countries.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 09 July 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Healthy environment is essential for all forms of life on Earth, providing essential elements like clean water, fresh air, fertile soil, and supporting the food chain ecosystem. Pollution, however, significantly degrades the quality of the environment by altering the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of these components. Inorganic and organic compounds, such as toxic metals, combustible and putrescible substances, hazardous wastes, explosives, and petroleum products, are major contributors to pollution. Specifically, the pollution of toxic and heavy metals in the environment is a growing concern worldwide, with alarming rates. These metals pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems, agriculture, and ultimately human health. Traditional treatment techniques, while offering advantages such as rapid processing, ease of operation, and control, have limitations in maintaining the quality of the environment due to high operational costs, energy consumption, handling costs for sludge disposal, and overburden of chemical substances. As a result, biodiversity is irreversibly affected, rendering the soil useless as a medium for plant growth. Bioremediation and biotechnology, carried out by living assets to clean up, stabilize, and restore contaminated ecosystems, have emerged as promising, environmentally friendly, and affordable approaches. The use of microbes, algae, transgenic plants, and weeds adapted to stressful environments can enhance accumulation efficiency. Sustainable and inexpensive processes are fast emerging as viable alternatives to conventional remediation methods, particularly for developing countries. In this volume, we discuss pollution remediation challenges and solutions, focusing on the role of living assets in restoring and preserving the environment.

Weight: 581g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030460778
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020