comprise major classes of macromolecules like nucleic acids, polysaccharides, proteins, enzymes, lipids, humic substances as well as ions. Therefore, this chapter
intends to provide an overview on the application of biofilm for the biotransformation and bioremediation of heavily polluted environments. The modes of action of
these biofilms derived from these beneficial microorganism were also highlighted in
detail.
Keywords Biofilm · Environment · Contaminants · Bacteria · Macromolecules ·
Biotransformation and bioremediation
9.1 Introduction
Bioremediation has been identified as an eco-friendly approach through which toxic
substances are rendered harmless substances majorly from the air, water, and soil
through the application of microorganisms (Alexander and Loehr 1992; Prasad and
Prasad 2012). This has been highlighted as a sustainable environmental approaches
because it prevents all the health and environmental hazards associated with the
synthetic treatment or some other conventional methodology used for the remediation of polluted environments (Vidali 2001). The typical examples of bioremediation
has been highlighted for the treatments of the following such as explosives, xenobiotic compounds, petroleum products, heavy metals, aromatic hydrocarbons, jet
fuels, pesticides, crude oil, herbicides and radionuclides (Gaur et al. 2014).
The application of beneficial microorganisms most especially bacterial and the
application of modern techniques for their improvement for the generation of
genetically modified strains have enabled their wider application for the bioremediation of heavily polluted environments. Moreover, some other microorganisms such
as fungal, actinomycetes and yeast are utilized for the removal of pollutant from the
environment (Mishra and Malik 2014; Cerniglia 1997; Balaji et al. 2014). It has been
observed that beneficial microorganisms play a crucial role in the biodegradation of
waste pollutants and natural organic compounds through numerous catabolic pathways which enable these strains to persist in numerous environments (Bouwer and
Zehnder 1993; Bruins et al. 2000). Some of these beneficial microorganisms are
extremophiles in nature, and they could withstand heavy metal polluted, acidic
contaminated soil or environment or radioactive environment. It has been observed
that there are several factors or conditions that enhance the process of biodegradation
(Prince 2000). The usage of beneficial microorganisms has been highlighted in the
maintenance environment (Adetunji et al. 2017, 2018, 2019a, b, 2020; Adetunji and
Adejumo 2017, 2018, 2019).
Most of these biodegradation processes involve the application of enzymes for
their bioremediation of heavily polluted compounds into non-toxic substances such
as water and carbon dioxide (Das and Dash 2014). The stages involved in the
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C. O. Adetunji and O. A. Anani
intends to provide an overview on the application of biofilm for the biotransformation and bioremediation of heavily polluted environments. The modes of action of
these biofilms derived from these beneficial microorganism were also highlighted in
detail.
Keywords Biofilm · Environment · Contaminants · Bacteria · Macromolecules ·
Biotransformation and bioremediation
9.1 Introduction
Bioremediation has been identified as an eco-friendly approach through which toxic
substances are rendered harmless substances majorly from the air, water, and soil
through the application of microorganisms (Alexander and Loehr 1992; Prasad and
Prasad 2012). This has been highlighted as a sustainable environmental approaches
because it prevents all the health and environmental hazards associated with the
synthetic treatment or some other conventional methodology used for the remediation of polluted environments (Vidali 2001). The typical examples of bioremediation
has been highlighted for the treatments of the following such as explosives, xenobiotic compounds, petroleum products, heavy metals, aromatic hydrocarbons, jet
fuels, pesticides, crude oil, herbicides and radionuclides (Gaur et al. 2014).
The application of beneficial microorganisms most especially bacterial and the
application of modern techniques for their improvement for the generation of
genetically modified strains have enabled their wider application for the bioremediation of heavily polluted environments. Moreover, some other microorganisms such
as fungal, actinomycetes and yeast are utilized for the removal of pollutant from the
environment (Mishra and Malik 2014; Cerniglia 1997; Balaji et al. 2014). It has been
observed that beneficial microorganisms play a crucial role in the biodegradation of
waste pollutants and natural organic compounds through numerous catabolic pathways which enable these strains to persist in numerous environments (Bouwer and
Zehnder 1993; Bruins et al. 2000). Some of these beneficial microorganisms are
extremophiles in nature, and they could withstand heavy metal polluted, acidic
contaminated soil or environment or radioactive environment. It has been observed
that there are several factors or conditions that enhance the process of biodegradation
(Prince 2000). The usage of beneficial microorganisms has been highlighted in the
maintenance environment (Adetunji et al. 2017, 2018, 2019a, b, 2020; Adetunji and
Adejumo 2017, 2018, 2019).
Most of these biodegradation processes involve the application of enzymes for
their bioremediation of heavily polluted compounds into non-toxic substances such
as water and carbon dioxide (Das and Dash 2014). The stages involved in the
228
C. O. Adetunji and O. A. Anani