Microbe mediated remediation of dyes, explosive waste and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides and pharmaceuticals

Abstract

Industrialization and human activities have led to serious effects on environment. With the progress taking place in the biodegradation field, it is important to summarize the latest advancement. In this review, we intend to provide insights on the recent progress on the biodegradation of environmental contaminants such as dyes, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, explosive waste and polyaromatic hydrocarbons by microorganisms. Along with the biodegradation of environmental contaminants, toxicity effects have also been discussed.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Dyes; Explosive waste; Microbes; PAHs; Pesticides; Pharmaceuticals.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Microbial degradation pathway of Malachite green. (Mukherjee and Das, 2014; J. a. Wang et al., 2012). LMG - leucomalachite green.

Fig. 2

Example of biodegradation pathway - Atrazine (with genes and enzymes) (De Souza et al., 1998; Mandelbaum et al., 1993; Martinez et al., 2001). AM, atrazine Monooxygenase; AC, atrazine chlorohydrolase; AH, allophanate hydrolase; BH, biuret hydrolase; CAH, cyanuric acid hydrolase; DIHA, deisopropyhidroxylatrazine amidohydrolase; DEAM, deethylatrazine monooxygenase; EAA, N-ethylammelide amidohydrolase; HAEA, hidroxyatrazine ethylaminohydrolase; IAIA, N-isopropylammelide isopropylamidohydrolase; TC, s-triazine chlorohydrolase; TH, s-triazine hydrolase.

Fig. 3

RDX microbial biodegradation pathways. Path 1 (via nitroso derivatives) and Path 2 (direct ring cleavage pathway) are illustrated (Hawari et al., 2000). MNX, DNX and TNX are mono, di- and tri- nitroso derivates of RDX respectively.

Fig. 4

Different pathways for biodegradation of PAHs by microbes (Bogan et al., 1996; Cerniglia, 1992; Eaton and Chapman, 1992; Gibson and Parales, 2000; Mueller et al., 1995).

Fig. 5

Working of an electro-bioremediation setting (Acuña et al., 2012). The effect of electrokinetic phenomena on porous soil. Hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas are generated at the cathode and hydrogen ions and oxygen gas at the anode. pH gradient generated throughout the affected subsurface facilitates electrokinetic migration of soil constituents. Microbes and PAHs move to the cathode by electroosmosis (EO). Electronegative microbes move to the anode electrophoretically (EP). Whereas electromigration (EM) is responsible in the movement of ions and heavy metals (HM).