Recent advances in bioremediation of contaminated soil and water using microbial surfactants

Abstract

Environmental contamination by improper disposal of industrial,-mining, agricultural, municipal, and other residues is known worldwide. Various-chemical-, physical-, and biological-based methods are currently being developed for removal of such pollutants from soil and water. Among these techniques, biological-treatment, or remediation using microbes, is one of the most promising techniques, mainly because of its cost-effectiveness and essentially complete destruction of numerous pollutants. The major requirement for this technique is survivability of the degrading microorganisms during the process. Biosurfactants, particularly microbial surfactants, play a vital role in cases where pollutants are not readily bioavailable, by increasing the apparent water solubility of the pollutants, which could be achieved either by ex situ addition or in situ production of biosurfactants by microbes. However, due to wide application potential of microbial surfactants in the environmental sector, it is important to know their mechanisms of action, recent advances in bioremediation processes, and other possible applications. The goal of this chapter is, therefore, to provide an overview of the different types of microbial surfactants and sources, their roles in several bioremediation processes, and recent advances in the field. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.