Soil Microenvironment for Bioremediation and Polymer Production

Book excerpt: Describes harmful elements and their bioremediation techniques for tannery waste, oil spills, wastewater, greenhouse gases, plastic and other wastes. Microenvironmental conditions in soil provide a natural niche for ultra-structures, microbes and microenvironments. The natural biodiversity of these microenvironments is being disturbed by industrialization and the proliferation of urban centers, and synthetic contaminants found in these micro-places are causing stress and instability in the biochemical systems of microbes. The development of new metabolic pathways from intrinsic metabolic cycles facilitate microbial degradation of diverse resistant synthetic compounds present in soil. These are a vital, competent and cost-effective substitute to conventional treatments. Highly developed techniques for bioremediation of these synthetic compounds are increasing and these techniques facilitate the development of a safe environment using renewable biomaterial for removal of toxic heavy metals and xenobiotics. Soil Microenvironment for Bioremediation and Polymer Production consists of 21 chapters by subject matter experts and is divided into four parts: Soil Microenvironment and Biotransformation Mechanisms; Synergistic Effects between Substrates and Microbes; Polyhydroxyalakanoates: Resources, Demands and Sustainability; and Cellulose-Based Biomaterials. This timely and important book highlights Chapters on classical bioremediation approaches and advances in the use of nanoparticles for removal of radioactive waste Discusses the production of applied emerging biopolymers using diverse microorganisms Provides the most innovative practices in the field of bioremediation Explores new techniques that will help to improve biopolymer production from bacteria Provides novel concepts for the most affordable and economic societal benefits.