Metal-resistant bacteria as a green bioresource for arsenic remediation in wastewaters

Abstract

Most of the industrial units dispose of their wastes without any proper treatment, causing increased toxic pollutants concentration including heavy metal ions to corrupt the ecosystem. Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous toxic metalloid, and its concentration is alarmingly increasing in our environment due to natural and human activities. It exists in two states, arsenate (As5+) and arsenite (As3+), and the latter one is highly toxic due to its greater mobility across the cell membrane. Arsenic long-term exposure causes arsenicosis and abnormalities in humans including color change, cancer, hypertension, and various disorders which relate to reproduction. Various physicochemical strategies have been recruited to exterminate As-pollution but microbial bioremediation is the most feasible strategy which has secured much attention in the last few decades. Among microorganisms, bacteria are an imminent foundation for green chemistry to eradicate environmental arsenic due to their process feasibility and excellent bioremediation potential.