Trends in Biotechnology
Volume 11, Issue 8, August 1993, Pages 353-359
Journal home page for Trends in Biotechnology

Review
Microbial treatment of metal pollution — a working biotechnology?

https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-7799(93)90158-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Some of the main processes that remove, immobilize or detoxify heavy metals and radionuclides in the natural environment result from microbial activities. These activities can be harnessed to clean up toxic metal wastes before they enter the wider environment. To date, the most successful biotechnological processes utilize biosorption and bioprecipitation, but other processes such as binding by specific macromolecules may have future potential. Technologies using these processes are currently used to control pollution from diverse sources, including smelters and mine workings.

References (67)

  • K. Komori et al.

    Biotechnol. Bioeng.

    (1990)
  • J.O. Nriagu et al.

    Nature

    (1988)
  • G.M. Gadd
  • J.R. Watterson

    Geology

    (1992)
  • N.S. Fisher et al.

    Nature

    (1988)
  • J.T. Beveridge
  • D.R. Lovley et al.

    Nature

    (1991)
  • R.D. Tyagi et al.

    Environ. Technol.

    (1991)
  • N.L. Gale
  • M. Tsezos et al.

    Biotechnol. Bioeng.

    (1981)
  • J.M. Tobin et al.

    Biotechnol. Bioeng.

    (1988)
  • M. Tsezos et al.

    Biotechnol. Bioeng.

    (1981)
  • B. Volesky
  • G.M. Gadd et al.
  • M. Wainwright et al.

    Biorecovery

    (1990)
  • L.E. Macaskie et al.
  • C. White et al.

    J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol.

    (1990)
  • G.M. Gadd
  • S.E. Shumate et al.
  • J.L. Whitlock et al.
  • L. De Rome et al.

    J. Ind. Microbiol.

    (1991)
  • C.L. Brierley
  • M. Tsezos et al.

    Biotechnol. Bioeng.

    (1989)
  • 25|Brierley, J. A., Brierley, C. L., Decker, R. F. and Goyak, G. M. (1987) US Patent 4 690...26|Brierley, J. A., Brierley, C. L., Decker, R. F. and Goyak, G. M. (1988) US Patent 4 789...27|Brierley, J. A., Brierley, C. L., Decker, R. F. and Goyak, G. M. (1990) US Patent 4 898...
  • J.A. Brierley
  • M. Tsezos et al.

    J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol.

    (1990)
  • 30|Volesky, B. and Tsezos, M. (1981) US Patent 4 320...
  • P.A. Harris et al.

    Environ. Sci. Technol.

    (1990)
  • G.W. Bedell et al.
  • C.L. Brierley

    Geomicrobiol. J.

    (1990)
  • 34|Barnes, L. J. (1990) Eur. Patent...
  • Cited by (445)

    • Microbial strategies to address environmental nanopollutants

      2022, Relationship Between Microbes and the Environment for Sustainable Ecosystem Services, Volume 2: Microbial Mitigation of Waste for Sustainable Ecosystem Services
    • Metal oxidizing microbes and potential application in bioremediation of soil and water

      2022, Metals and Metalloids in Soil-Plant-Water Systems: Phytophysiology and Remediation Techniques
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text