Abstract

Of late, the Indian government has been betting high on the bioremediation technology to clean water bodies including our national river Ganga. Last year, the Central Pollution Control Board demonstrated a successful trial of the technology at a river basin in New Delhi. In such, scholars need to study the effectiveness and possible drawbacks of the technology that might be mitigated through a scientific and collective approach. Bioremediation technology uses aquatic plants and microorganisms to degrade and convert toxic pollutants such as oil, heavy metals, fertilizers, and pesticides into harmless compounds. The technology is cost-effective as it does not require transportation of water and can be carried out at the site. The technology is a bit sensitive to environmental factors but can be carried out anywhere with some manipulation of the environment. Overall, the technology is cost-effective and seldom produces secondary wastage that may harm the aquatic or non-aquatic life in some other way.

References

1. Zhu, Xueqing. Venosa, Albert D. Suidan, Makram T. (2004) Literature Review on the Use of Commercial Bioremediation Agents for Cleanup of oil-contaminated Estuarine Environments. National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2. Jacob, Jaya Mary, Karthik, Chinnannan. Saratale, Rijuta Ganesh. Kumar, Smita S., Prabakar, Desika. Kadirvelu, K. Pugazhendhi, Arivalagan. (2018) Biological Approaches to Tackle Heavy Heavy Metal Pollution: A Survey of Literature. Journal of Environmental Management (217). pp. 56-70
3. Shodhganga Infibnet. Review of Literature: Bioremediation. Retrieved from https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/33650/10/10_chapter%202.pdf on July 28, 2020
4. Kulper, Irene. Lagendijk, Ellen L. Bloember, Guldo V. Lugtenber, Ben J. J. (2004) Rhizoredmediation: A Beneficial Plant-Microbe Interaction. The American Phytopathological Society (17) (1), pp. 6-15.
5. Oberai, Mehak, and Veena Khanna. (2018) “Rhizoremediation – Plant-Microbe Interactions in the Removal of Pollutants.” International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 2280–87. Crossref, DOI:10.20546/ijcmas.2018.701.276.
6. Goel, Sudha & Babu, Manoj & Majumdar, Debaleena & Mahto, Bandama & Mondal, Shyamal & Mohanta, Tandra. (2013). Emerging contaminants in Ganga River Basin: Pesticides, heavy metals, and antibiotics. 10.13140/RG.2.2.11737.31841.
7. Singh, Balwant Kumar. Singh, Ved Pal. Singh, Mahendra Nath. (2002) Bioremediation of Contaminated Water Bodies. Biotransformations: Bioremediation Technology for Health and Environmental Protection.
8. Aggarwal, Mayank. (2015). How microbes can clean polluted water, from drains to rivers. Retrieved from livemint.com from https://www.livemint.com/Politics/H6eL4JewrqqatlK mGQdnON/How-microbes-can-clean-polluted-water-from-drains-to-rivers.html on July 28, 2020
9. Aggarwal, Mayank. (2015). How microbes can clean polluted water, from drains to rivers. Retrieved from livemint.com from https://www.livemint.com/Politics/H6eL4JewrqqatlK mGQdnON/How-microbes-can-clean-polluted-water-from-drains-to-rivers.html on July 28, 2020
10. Singh, Balwant Kumar, et al. “Bioremediation of Contaminated Water Bodies.” Progress in Industrial Microbiology, 2002, pp. 537–48. Crossref, DOI:10.1016/s0079-6352(02)80026-1.

Download PDF
Back