Degradation of Environmental Contaminants through Bioremediation: A Review

Abstract

Cleaning up hazardous and toxic wastes at polluted sites is a serious challenge for the foreseeable future. Microorganisms are used to change harmful substances to nontoxic substances. This is a new technology for treating chemical spills and hazardous wastes. Bioremediation emerged as an essential biotechnology tool in this endeavor by providing new approaches for managing, preserving and restoring the environment. The process involves not only the use of microorganisms, in addition fungi, green plants or their enzymes are used to return natural environment altered by contaminants to its safe condition. In an attempt to review the clean-up strategies employed by scientists in getting rid of environmental contaminants, this review paper examines the potentials of bioremediation technologies in accelerating the degradation of these contaminants.