Environmental remediation: Microbial and nonmicrobial prospects

Abstract

Artificial chemicals existing in the environment at high concentrations lead to all types of pollution. There is big concern about these chemicals which are not natural but present as contaminants. This chapter focuses on remediation technologies used in decontaminating the environment. Microorganisms have an extraordinary ability of breaking down the contaminants partially or entirely. Nonmicrobial methods have also been in practice successfully as contaminant removal processes. Bacterial bioremediation methods of land filling and composting have proven to be the most economical methods to be used for both indigenous wild type and also genetically modified microbes. Nonbiological methods were grouped together as thermal and nonthermal processes that are suitable for bioremediation.