Nanobioremediation Technologies for Potential Application in Environmental Cleanup

Abstract

Increased population density and demands of urban environment together with industrialization has caused environmental pollution which ultimately has adverse effects on human health. Maintaining a clean environment by using a sustainable, eco-friendly and cost-effective technologies is one the arduous challenge of twenty-first century. Nanobioremediation is an advanced rapidly emerging technology for the removal of contaminants from the environment using biologically synthesized nanoparticles. These nanoparticles show unique physical, chemical and biochemical properties and thus have received considerable attention from researchers globally in different fields of environmental sciences including bioremediation. Biologically synthesized nanoparticles have been found to be significant in modifying and detoxifying pollutants which ruin the environment. Moreover, these also have the capability for extensive environmental cleanup at lower price and reduced toxic by-products. The present chapter summarizes the biological synthesis of nanoparticles from plants, algae, yeast, fungi and bacteria and recent developments in the nanobioremediation technology for environmental cleanup along with the future prospects. The technique of nanobioremediation is found to be efficient and economic and proved to be a superior and innocuous substitute to the available traditional methods providing a sustainable environment.