Scientists sequenced the complete genetic code of a soil bacterium called Bacillus licheniformis strain KNU11. This bacterium produces powerful enzymes and can break down pollutants, making it useful for cleaning up environmental contamination and promoting plant growth. The genetic blueprint revealed over 4,000 genes that enable these beneficial capabilities.
Scientists discovered a bacterium called Bacillus cereus BC4 that can remove dangerous chromium from contaminated soil very effectively. By sequencing the bacteria’s genes, they found specific proteins that help it break down and transport chromium, converting the toxic form into a less harmful version. This research could help clean up polluted soils and restore damaged ecosystems, offering a natural and sustainable approach to environmental cleanup.
Microalgae can help clean water polluted with toxic heavy metals like cadmium and chromium while also producing useful biomass. The review explains how microalgae absorb and trap heavy metals, and describes ways to make them more effective, including adding certain chemicals, selecting resilient strains, and using genetic modification. Combining heavy metal removal with biomass production could make the process cost-effective for real-world applications.
Researchers discovered that a bacterium called Serratia plymuthica can effectively remove copper from contaminated water using special protective layers of polymers it produces. These polymer layers, especially the protein components, act like tiny magnets that capture copper ions from solution. The study found that when these bacteria form biofilms on porous surfaces, they become even more effective at removing copper from industrial wastewater, achieving up to 97% removal efficiency even under harsh acidic conditions.
Heavy metal pollution from industrial activities poses serious health risks including cancer, kidney damage, and neurological problems. This review explores how cellulose-based hydrogels—soft, water-absorbing materials made from natural plant sources—can effectively remove toxic metals from contaminated water. These hydrogels are cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and can be reused multiple times, making them promising alternatives to conventional water treatment methods for industrial and municipal applications.
Actinomycetes are bacteria that naturally occur in soil and marine environments and have unique abilities to break down harmful pollutants like heavy metals, oil, pesticides, and dyes. These microorganisms use specialized enzymes and mechanisms to remove or transform toxic substances, making them promising candidates for cleaning up contaminated environments. Combining multiple strains together and using modern genetic engineering could make these bacteria even more effective for large-scale environmental cleanup projects.
Microbes like bacteria and fungi can break down pollutants and transform harmful waste into useful products through biological processes called bioremediation. By employing these naturally occurring or genetically modified microorganisms, we can clean up contaminated soil and water while producing valuable products like proteins and biofuels. This approach offers an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable solution to waste management that reduces pollution while creating a circular bioeconomy.
Researchers investigated using oyster mushroom mycelium to filter contaminated water containing iron and pesticides. They found that the mushroom-based filter effectively removed iron (III) from water, reducing it by 94% in column experiments. Tests on freshwater snails exposed to the filtered water showed improved water quality. This approach offers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional water treatment methods.
This research examines how using fungi-treated digestate (a byproduct from biogas production) can clean polluted soil more effectively than using either alone. The study shows that combining digestate with fungi successfully removes heavy metals like lead and cadmium from soil while promoting plant growth. The best results came from using digestate made from cattle manure. This approach offers an affordable and sustainable way to restore contaminated soils.
Fungi can be used to clean up environmental pollution from industrial waste, pesticides, and heavy metals. Unlike expensive chemical treatments, fungal mycoremediation is cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Fungi produce natural enzymes that break down harmful pollutants into harmless substances, making it a promising solution for protecting soil and water contamination.