Heavy metal bioprecipitation. Use of sulfate-reducing microorganisms

WILLIS PORATTI GRACIANA; DONATI EDGARDO

Heavy Metals in The Environment. Microorganisms and Bioremediation

Taylor and Francis Group

Año: 2017; p. 1 - 332

The environmental impact of heavy metal contamination due to anthropogenic activities has increased enormously in the last years. As a result of industrial activity, highly polluted waters from industrial effluents, municipal waste treatment plants, landfill leaching and mining activities among others, are released into the environment without any concern or government regulation. An inadequate disposal of these materials could cause hazardous environmental problems if their large amounts of toxic metals are mobilized and reach soil and groundwater. Unlike organic pollutants, heavy metals cannot be degraded and accumulate over time in the environment, including the food chain. Depending on their concentration and speciation, some heavy metals can be toxic and non-essential (e.g., Hg, Cd, and Pb), while others can be essential in certain amounts but they can also become toxic at higher doses (e.g., Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Ni, and Cr) (Viera and Donati, 2004; Singh and Gadi, 2009).