Biorefinery and Bioremediation Strategies for Efficient Management of Recalcitrant Pollutants Using Termites as an Obscure yet Promising Source of Bacterial Gut Symbionts: A Review

Abstract

The accumulation of recalcitrant pollutants (e.g., lignin biomass and synthetic textile dyes) in diverse ecosystems has exacerbated the problem of environmental pollution. The complex polymer structure of lignin brings huge challenges to the development of high-efficiency transformation technology, making it difficult to realize its industrial utilization. On the other hand, the use of dyes in the textile industry poses significant challenges worldwide. Dyes are very similar to lignin biomass in chemical structure. Similarly, under natural conditions, it is difficult for microorganisms in the environment to achieve rapid biodegradation and complete detoxification. Clearly, the integration of bioremediation and biorefinery technology towards such recalcitrant organic wastes is considered a novel concept for mitigating the toxicity of such pollutants using termite gut symbionts. Modern biorefinery and bioremediation applications can integrate the termite gut system, a unique bioresource that comprises distinct bacterial species valued for lignocellulosic material processing and synthetic dye degradation. Therefore, this review paper provides a new strategy for efficient management of recalcitrant pollutants by exploring the potential application of termite gut bacteria in terms of science and industry.