MICROBIAL REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM WASTEWATER

• Main Author: Justyna Koc-Jurczyk
• Format: Article
• Language: Polish
• Published: Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE) 2014-10-01
• Series: Inżynieria Ekologiczna
• Subjects: heavy metals; wastewater; Biosorption; retadation
• Online Access: http://www.journalssystem.com/ie/Mikrobiologiczne-usuwanie-metali-ciezkich-ze-sciekow,330,0,2.html

Industrialization and urbanization result in increase of heavy metals released into the environment (soil, lakes, rivers, seas, oceans, groundwater). Studies on biosorption of heavy metals are aimed to specify types of microorganisms which could efficiently bind metals. This approach has a very important significance for both slowing down metals exploitation by recovery, and also reduction of environmental pollution by decrease of their excessive concentration. Recent studies have reported about the capabilities of fungi, algae, yeasts, bacteria, waste and agricultural residues or materials containing chitosan derived from crustacean shells as a biosorbents. Biohydrometallurgy could be considered as a new “green” technology of heavy metals removal from wastewater.