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Review
. 2023 Jan 11;28(2):719.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28020719.

Effective Usage of Biochar and Microorganisms for the Removal of Heavy Metal Ions and Pesticides

Soumya K Manikandan  1 , Pratyasha Pallavi  1 , Krishan Shetty  1 , Debalina Bhattacharjee  2 , Dimitrios A Giannakoudakis  3 , Ioannis A Katsoyiannis  3 , Vaishakh Nair  1
Affiliations
Review

Effective Usage of Biochar and Microorganisms for the Removal of Heavy Metal Ions and Pesticides

Soumya K Manikandan et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

The bioremediation of heavy metal ions and pesticides is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Microbial remediation is considered superior to conventional abiotic remediation processes, due to its cost-effectiveness, decrement of biological and chemical sludge, selectivity toward specific metal ions, and high removal efficiency in dilute effluents. Immobilization technology using biochar as a carrier is one important approach for advancing microbial remediation. This article provides an overview of biochar-based materials, including their design and production strategies, physicochemical properties, and applications as adsorbents and support for microorganisms. Microorganisms that can cope with the various heavy metal ions and/or pesticides that enter the environment are also outlined in this review. Pesticide and heavy metal bioremediation can be influenced by microbial activity, pollutant bioavailability, and environmental factors, such as pH and temperature. Furthermore, by elucidating the interaction mechanisms, this paper summarizes the microbe-mediated remediation of heavy metals and pesticides. In this review, we also compile and discuss those works focusing on the study of various bioremediation strategies utilizing biochar and microorganisms and how the immobilized bacteria on biochar contribute to the improvement of bioremediation strategies. There is also a summary of the sources and harmful effects of pesticides and heavy metals. Finally, based on the research described above, this study outlines the future scope of this field.

Keywords: bioremediation; immobilization; microbial cell; pollutant.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The effects of pesticides and heavy metal exposure on humans.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The predominant technique for the physicochemical characterization of biochar-based materials.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The fulvic acid- and citric acid-modified biochar adsorption mechanism for metolachlor in water Reprinted/adapted with permission from Ref. [54]. Copyright 2021, Elsevier.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The overall involvement of biochar in heavy metal and pesticide remediation.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Factors influencing microbial degradation.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Mechanism of the microbial bioremediation of heavy metals.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The mechanism of the microbial bioremediation of pesticide.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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