Novel biofiltration methods for the treatment of heavy metals from industrial wastewater

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 151; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Srivastava, N.K., Majumder, C.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 28-02-2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - metabolism; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biofilters; Biofiltration; Biological and medical sciences; Biosorption; Biotechnology; Chemical engineering; Eukaryota - metabolism; Exact sciences and technology; Filtration - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi - metabolism; General purification processes; General treatment and storage processes; Genetic Engineering; Heavy metals; Industrial Waste - adverse effects; Industrial Waste - analysis; Metals, Heavy - isolation & purification; Metals, Heavy - metabolism; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Modeling; Others; Pollution; Reactors; Various methods and equipments; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Wastes; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Genetic engineering; Biosorption; Biofiltration; Modeling; Heavy metals; Human; Waste treatment; Contamination; Waste water; Biological purification; Heavy metal; Bioreactor; Pollution; Industrial waste water; Chemical treatment; Kinetics; Biological treatment; Biofilter
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.09.101

Most heavy metals are well-known toxic and carcinogenic agents and when discharged into the wastewater represent a serious threat to the human population and the fauna and flora of the receiving water bodies. In the present review paper, the sources have discussed the industrial source of heavy metals contamination in water, their toxic effects on the fauna and flora and the regulatory threshold limits of these heavy metals. The various parameters of the biofiltration processes, their mechanism for heavy metals removal along with the kinetics of biofilters and its modeling aspects have been discussed. The comparison of various physico-chemical treatment and the advantages of biofiltration over other conventional processes for treatment of heavy metals contaminated wastewater have also been discussed. The applications of genetic engineering in the modification of the microorganisms for increasing the efficiency of the biofiltration process for heavy metals removal have been critically analyzed. The results show that the efficiency of the process can be increased three to six folds with the application of recombinant microbial treatment.