Abstract

Bioremediation is well accepted technology for the removal of pollutants produced by the anthropogenic activities and rapid industrialization. Different innovative tools such as microbes and techniques could be employed for the bioremediation of toxicity in environment. The microbial based bioremediation is one of the most effective tools due to maximum output, cost effectiveness, and non-toxic process. Microbes having capability to remediate, habours the different hot spots such as plant microbiomes (epiphytic, endophytic, and rhizospheric) and from diverse extreme environments (psychrophilic, thermophilic, xerophilic, halophilic, acidophilic and alkaliphilic). Microbes are known to degrade the different pollutants including azo dyes, heavy metals, agricultural wastes, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Thus utilization of microbes and their consortia is highly accepted and recommended technology for decontamination of environment is a prime concern on account of being eco-friendly, non-hazardous, safe and cost-effective. In the past two decades there have been recent advances in bioremediation techniques with the ultimate goal to restore polluted environment for better survival of living beings and protecting the sanctity of nature. In the present review, the current scenario of microbial bioremediation of different pollutants is discussed along with factors affecting the bioremediation.

Key words: Bioremediation; Microbes; Microbial consortia; Pollutants; Technologies