Bioremediation of heavy metals using biosurfactants

Abstract

Industrial waste and sewage pollute more than 2/3 of India's water resources. Stream pollution is a serious and growing problem in most developing countries where there is little waste water treatment. Increasing contamination of aquatic resources with pollution including heavy metals (like chromium, lead, cadmium, zinc, nickel etc.) endangers aquatic biota and declines water quality. Bioremediation is a process that uses microorganisms or their enzymes to return the environment altered by contaminants to its original condition. Biological methods for the removal of heavy metals from industrial waste may provide an attractive alternative to the physico-chemical process; biosurfactants are one of the compounds that aid in alleviating the heavy metals. Microorganisms while trying to utilize substrates like hydrocarbon as carbon source facilitate the diffusion into cell by producing a variety of substances called biosurfactants. Several microbes such as Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Acinetiobacter sp. and Arthobacter sp. are reported to produce biosufactants. Compared to synthetic compounds, biosurfactants offer the advantages of little or no environmental impact and the possibility of in situ production. Studies in recent past have demonstrated the successful use of biosurfactants for facilitating the degradation of organic pollutants in soil and water. In the light of above the present study is aimed to carry out the assessment of efficiency of biosurfactants (Rhamnolipid) producing microorganisms (Pseudomonas sp.) isolated from heavy metal contaminated site.