MICROBIAL BIOREMEDIATION TECHNIQUES OF SOILS CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Soil Remediation, Heavy Metal Contamination, Soil RemediationMicrobial Bioremediation, Environmental Pollution, Bioaugmentation, Biostimulation, In situ Bioremediation, Ex situ Bioremediation, Biosorption
Abstract
Background: Heavy metal (PM) contamination of soil is a global issue resulting from increased production activities. Unlike organic pollutants, PM cannot be chemically, physically, or biologically broken down, making remediation challenging. The objective of this study is to outline the applicability, benefits, and drawbacks of microbial bioremediation to highlight elements that may aid in its potential selection for various PM-contaminated soil remediation scenarios.
Methods: A descriptive and qualitative methodology built on secondary data was used to conduct this study. The analysis focused on the effects of microbial bioremediation, which involves valence transformation, biosorption, extracellular chemical precipitation, and volatilization through the actions of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and algae.
Results: The study found that the primary determinants of successful bioremediation are:
- Climate (temperature and precipitation), Soil characteristics (pH and texture), Use of microorganisms resistant to or tolerant of contaminants, Injection of one or more species with proven remedial capability. In situ, bioremediation techniques such as bioaugmentation, biostimulation, and venting are preferred over ex-situ methods like land farming and composting due to their lower cost and reduced environmental, economic, and societal impacts.
Conclusions: In situ bioremediation techniques are frequently used because they are less costly and have a smaller negative impact on the environment compared to ex-situ methods. However, due to the complex nature of bioremediation, projects and studies must adopt a multidisciplinary approach to enhance understanding of microbial ecology, physiology, evolution, biochemistry, and genetics. The diversity of microorganisms and bioremediation techniques presents opportunities to expand their application.
References
2. Alabssawy, A. N., & Hashem, A. H. (2024). Bioremediation of hazardous heavy metals by marine microorganisms: a recent review. Archives of Microbiology, 206(3), 1-18.
3. Ashkanani, Z., Mohtar, R., Al-Enezi, S., Smith, P. K., Calabrese, S., Ma, X., & Abdullah, M. (2024). AI-assisted systematic review on remediation of contaminated soils with PAHs and heavy metals. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 133813.
4. Dhanapal, A. R., Thiruvengadam, M., Vairavanathan, J., Venkidasamy, B., Easwaran, M., & Ghorbanpour, M. (2024). Nanotechnology approaches for the remediation of agricultural polluted soils. ACS omega, 9(12), 13522-13533.
5. Dou, R., Xie, Y., Liu, F. X., Wang, B., Xu, F., & Xiao, K. (2024). In situ, mycoremediation of acid rain and heavy metals co-contaminated soil through microbial inoculation with Pleurotus ostreatus—science of the Total Environment, 912, 169020.
6. Gani, A., Hussain, A., Pathak, S., & Banerjee, A. (2024). An empirical investigation on eliminating heavy metals using bioremediation method for selected plant species. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 134, 103568.
7. Gupta, R., Khan, F., Alqahtani, F. M., Hashem, M., & Ahmad, F. (2024). Plant growth–promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) assisted bioremediation of Heavy Metal Toxicity. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 196(5), 2928-2956.
8. He, L., Xu, Y., Zhang, M., Gul, S., Zhang, X., Zhong, H., . . . Liu, D. (2024). Effect of remediation technologies on soil fertility in heavy metal (loid)-contaminated soils: A critical review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 1-19.
9. Janaki, M., Kirupanantha-Rajan, P., Senthil-Nathan, S., Stanley-Raja, V., Al Farraj, D. A., Aljeidi, R. A., & Arokiyaraj, S. (2024). The beneficial role of Burkholderia cepacia in heavy metal bioremediation in metal-polluted soils and enhances tomato plant growth. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 103032.
10. Khatun, M., Kobir, M. M., Miah, M. A. R., Sarkar, A. K., & Alam, M. A. (2024). Technologies for remediation of heavy metals in environment and ecosystem: A critical overview of a comparison study. Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology, 23(4), 61-80.
11. Kou, B., Yuan, Y., Zhu, X., Ke, Y., Wang, H., Yu, T., & Tan, W. (2024). Effect of soil organic matter-mediated electron transfer on heavy metal remediation: Current status and perspectives. Science of the Total Environment, 170451.
12. Li, X., Li, R., Zhan, M., Hou, Q., Zhang, H., Wu, G., . . . Xu, Y. (2024). Combined magnetic biochar and ryegrass enhanced the remediation effect of soils contaminated with multiple heavy metals. Environment International, 108498.
13. Li, Y., Yuan, Y., Qi, X., Wang, S., Wang, Y., Yin, H., & Dang, Z. (2024). A novel soil remediation technology for simultaneous heavy metals immobilization and nitrogen supplementation. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 12(1), 111628.
14. Liu, F., Zhang, K., Zhao, Y., Li, D., Sun, X., Lin, L., . . . Zhu, Z. (2024). Screening of cadmium-chromium-tolerant strains and synergistic remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil using king grass combined with highly efficient microbial strains. Science of the Total Environment, 912, 168990.
15. Liu, Y.-Q., Chen, Y., Li, Y.-Y., Ding, C.-Y., Li, B.-L., Han, H., & Chen, Z.-J. (2024). Plant growth-promoting bacteria improve the Cd phytoremediation efficiency of soils contaminated with PE–Cd complex pollution by influencing the rhizosphere microbiome of sorghum—Journal of Hazardous Materials, 469, 134085.
16. Madhav, S., Mishra, R., Kumari, A., Srivastav, A., Ahamad, A., Singh, P., . . . Sillanpää, M. (2024). A review of sources identification of heavy metals in soil and remediation measures by phytoremediation-induced methods. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 21(1), 1099-1120.
17. Maqbool, Z., Farooq, M. S., Rafiq, A., Uzair, M., Yousuf, M., Khan, M. R., & Huo, S. (2024). Unlocking the potential of biochar in the remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals for sustainable agriculture. Functional Plant Biology, 51(2).
18. Nag, M., Lahiri, D., Ghosh, S., Sarkar, T., Pati, S., Das, A. P., . . . Ray, R. R. (2024). Application of microorganisms in biotransformation and bioremediation of environmental contaminant: a review. Geomicrobiology Journal, 41(4), 374-391.
19. Ningombam, L., Mana, T., Apum, G., Ningthoujam, R., & Singh, Y. D. (2024). Nano-bioremediation: A prospective approach for environmental decontamination focuses on soil, water, and heavy metals. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, 100931.
20. Okpara-Elom, I. A., Onochie, C. C., Elom, M. O., Ezaka, E., & Elom, O. (2024). Bioremediation of heavy metal polluted soil using plant growth promoting bacteria: a response assessment. Bioremediation Journal, 28(1), 34-53.
21. Reddy, K. V., Ranjit, P., Priyanka, E., Maddela, N. R., & Prasad, R. (2024). Bioremediation of heavy metals-contaminated sites by microbial extracellular polymeric substances–A critical view. Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology.
22. Roy, R., Samanta, S., Pandit, S., Naaz, T., Banerjee, S., Rawat, J. M., . . . Saha, R. P. (2024). An overview of bacteria-mediated heavy metal bioremediation strategies. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 196(3), 1712-1751.
23. Saad, M. M., Saad, M. A., Saad, B. S., Zakaria, F. A., Husain, A.-R. A., & Abdelgaleil, S. A. (2024). Bioremediation and microbial-assisted phytoremediation of heavy metals by endophytic Fusarium species isolated from Convolvulus arvensis. Bioremediation Journal, 28(2), 202-212.
24. Singh, A., & Kostova, I. (2024). Health effects of heavy metal contaminants Vis-à-Vis microbial response in their bioremediation. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 122068.
25. Song, L., Zhou, J., Xu, X., Na, M., Xu, S., Huang, Y., . . . Zheng, X. (2024). Inoculation of cadmium-tolerant bacteria to regulate microbial activity and key bacterial population in cadmium-contaminated soils during bioremediation. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 271, 115957.
26. Tennakoon, A., Wasana, W., Bellanthudawa, B., Sandamal, S., & Ratnasekera, D. (2024). Plant-Assisted Bioremediation of Heavy Metals in Soil and Water Phytoremediation and Biofortification (pp. 99-129): Apple Academic Press.
27. Wang, Z., Zhang, H., Xiong, Y., Zhang, L., Cui, J., Li, G., . . . Wen, K. (2025). Remediation mechanism of high concentrations of multiple heavy metals in contaminated soil by Sedum alfredo and native microorganisms. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 147, 179-188.
28. Wen, X., Zhou, J., Zheng, S., Yang, Z., Lu, Z., Jiang, X., . . . Chen, T. (2024). Geochemical properties, heavy metals and soil microbial community during the revegetation process in Pb-Zn tailings production. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 463, 132809.
29. Xiang, Y., Lan, J., Dong, Y., Zhou, M., Hou, H., & Huang, B.-T. (2024). Pollution control performance of solidified nickel-cobalt tailings on site: bioavailability of heavy metals and microbial response. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 471, 134295.
30. Yaashikaa, P., Palanivelu, J., & Hemavathy, R. (2024). Sustainable approaches for removing toxic heavy metal from contaminated water: A comprehensive review of bioremediation and biosorption techniques. Chemosphere, 141933.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Sadia Batool
Student Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus
Naseem Akhter
Lecturer College of Nursing, The University of Sargodha, Pakistan
Midrar Ullah
BS Environmental Science, Department of Environmental Science, Govt Degree College Gul Abad Dir (L) KPK Pakistan
Muhammad Umair
BS Environmental Science, Department of Environmental Science, Govt Degree College Gul Abad Dir (L) KPK Pakistan
Nosheen Akhter
Assistant Editor, Research Journal of Innovative Ideas and Thoughts,
Noor Al Huda
Student, Beaconhouse College Progress, Pakistan
Dr Iqbal Nisa
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Women University Swabi
Aziz Ur Rahman
Phil Scholar, Department of Microbiology, University of Swat, Pakistan