BACTERIAL REMEDIATION AND PROSPECTS FOR ITS UTILIZATION (REVIEW)

Abstract

The escalating technogenic burden on the environment has adverse effects on ecological systems at various levels. Heavy metals significantly contribute to environmental contamination due to their strong biological impact and cumulative properties. The search for new methodological approaches to mitigate the consequences of technogenic pollution induced by heavy metals is an urgent task for ensuring the environmental sustainability of the region. Physical and chemical remediation techniques have several drawbacks, such as high costs and incomplete removal, which can lead to secondary contamination. Bacterial remediation is a highly efficient method that ensures a reduction in the level of human-induced pressure on the ecological system: bacteria – water – soil – plant – animal – human. The article examines meta-analytical data on the mechanisms of interaction between bacterial cells and metals, as well as methods of soil bioremediation and assessment of the sorption characteristics of microorganisms from the genus Bacillus sp. The results of empirical studies presented in the review demonstrate significant bioremediation potential of representatives of this group towards essential and xenobiotic elements from the group of heavy metals. Thus, the level of mercury sorption from substrates can reach up to 96.40 % of the applied concentration, lead – up to 99.5 %, cadmium – 98.3 %, arsenic – 98.3 %, nickel – 99.2 %, chromium – 95.0 %, copper – 91.8 % and zinc – 87.0 %, respectively. The research focuses on developing alternative methods that are not only highly efficient but also environmentally friendly for remediating areas affected by human-induced stress, by utilizing bacterial cell populations. The majority of the analyzed works studies use indigenous strains the tolerance to metals and sorption capacity of which are determined by their selection characteristics under conditions of excessive cationic load of metals on their environment.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.29039/2413-1733-2024-38-150-165

Journal

Ekosistemy

Year

2024