Anaerobic bioremediation-an untapped potential

Recently there has been considerable interest in employing bioremediation technologies for treatment of wastes andfor reclamation and restoration of contaminated ecosystems. In this technology, microorganisms or their constituentssuch as enzymes are used to degrade or transform the wastes. Though, c...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: N. Balagurusamy
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2005
Country:México
Institution:Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila
Repository:Redalyc-UADEC
OAI Identifier:oai:redalyc.org:62040307
Online Access:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=62040307
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Ingeniería
hydrocarbons
heavy metals
bioremediation
anaerobic bacteria
chlorinated compounds
Description
Summary:Recently there has been considerable interest in employing bioremediation technologies for treatment of wastes andfor reclamation and restoration of contaminated ecosystems. In this technology, microorganisms or their constituentssuch as enzymes are used to degrade or transform the wastes. Though, contaminated ecosystems lack oxygen andfavor the growth and activity of anaerobic bacteria, most of the bioremediation technology employs aerobicmicroorganisms. However, treatment of industrial wastewaters is the only area in which anaerobic technology iswidely employed presently. Recent advances in molecular ecology helps us in understanding the diversity ofanaerobic bacteria, their processes and their important role in global cycle of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur. In addition,different anaerobic bacterial groups possess the ability to use different types of electron acceptors such as nitrate,sulfate, and carbonate for degradation of organic contaminants or for biotransformation heavy metals. Still, thepotential of anaerobic bacteria for bioremediation of various contaminants is not capitalized. This paper deals withapplication of anaerobic bioremediation for biorestoration of land and water ecosystems contaminated withhydrocarbons, chlorinated compounds and heavy metals.