Environmental Nanobiotechnology: Microbial-Mediated …
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produced from bio-renewable feedstocks. Biofuels are considered renewable because
their raw materials result from photosynthesis either directly as in plants and algae
or indirectly as in animal sources that feed on plants, so they are renewable and environmental friendly. The most common liquid biofuels are bioethanol and biodiesel.
Bioethanol could be produced from the microbial degradation of lignocellulosic
wastes into fermentable sugars (considered as second generation biofuel). While
biodiesel is produced from the esterification or transesterification of plant, animal,
microbial and algal lipids into fatty acid methyl ester. Incorporation of nanotechnology into the field of biofuel production offers many possibilities such working
as growth enhancer, stress inducer to optimize lipid contents (in microalgae for
instance), as well as for biomass harvesting (flocculation) (Matter et al. 2016, 2019)
as well as improving the yield of biofuel (Sanusi et al. 2020). Furthermore, production of biofuels could be coupled with bioremediation of wastewater and municipal
solid wastes which helps to gain environmental sustainability (Srivastava et al. 2017;
Eida et al. 2018; Sangeetha et al. 2019).
5 Applications of Microbial Nanoparticles in Agriculture
As a fast developing field of science and technology, nanotechnology could be a very
helpful tool to enhance agricultural controlling process. Nanotechnology has potential benefits that can improve sustainability in the agroecosystem including producing
better and safe food, decreasing agricultural inputs, and implementation of nanoscale
nutrients. Application of nanotechnology in plant nutrition and pest control could be
with great impact on sustaining agro environment (Prasad et al. 2017). Advancing
the application of nanotechnology increases the efficient use of agrochemicals (of
fertilizers and pesticides) in agriculture that develops the smart characteristics in
the agri-inputs. Improving agroprocesses as targeted delivery, controlled release,
increasing solubility and long shelf-life through application of nanotechnology not
only good for its efficacy but also minimizes the risk of environmental contamination
(Chhipa 2019; Mishra et al. 2014).
5.1 Smart Nanofertilizers
One of the recent advancements in nanotechnology application in agriculture
is nanofertilizers. Several studies revealed the higher efficacy of nanofertilizers
compared to normal fertilizers which could be explained by its nanosize and high
volume to surface area. Various trails have been reported from application of silver,
iron, zinc, calcium, titanium, carbon nanotubes, molybdenum and silica as nanofertilizers for different crop systems. The findings of these studies have mentioned
that nanomaterials were more efficient to increase root and shoot length, vegetative biomass, chlorophyll content, phytochemicals and seed germination at certain
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produced from bio-renewable feedstocks. Biofuels are considered renewable because
their raw materials result from photosynthesis either directly as in plants and algae
or indirectly as in animal sources that feed on plants, so they are renewable and environmental friendly. The most common liquid biofuels are bioethanol and biodiesel.
Bioethanol could be produced from the microbial degradation of lignocellulosic
wastes into fermentable sugars (considered as second generation biofuel). While
biodiesel is produced from the esterification or transesterification of plant, animal,
microbial and algal lipids into fatty acid methyl ester. Incorporation of nanotechnology into the field of biofuel production offers many possibilities such working
as growth enhancer, stress inducer to optimize lipid contents (in microalgae for
instance), as well as for biomass harvesting (flocculation) (Matter et al. 2016, 2019)
as well as improving the yield of biofuel (Sanusi et al. 2020). Furthermore, production of biofuels could be coupled with bioremediation of wastewater and municipal
solid wastes which helps to gain environmental sustainability (Srivastava et al. 2017;
Eida et al. 2018; Sangeetha et al. 2019).
5 Applications of Microbial Nanoparticles in Agriculture
As a fast developing field of science and technology, nanotechnology could be a very
helpful tool to enhance agricultural controlling process. Nanotechnology has potential benefits that can improve sustainability in the agroecosystem including producing
better and safe food, decreasing agricultural inputs, and implementation of nanoscale
nutrients. Application of nanotechnology in plant nutrition and pest control could be
with great impact on sustaining agro environment (Prasad et al. 2017). Advancing
the application of nanotechnology increases the efficient use of agrochemicals (of
fertilizers and pesticides) in agriculture that develops the smart characteristics in
the agri-inputs. Improving agroprocesses as targeted delivery, controlled release,
increasing solubility and long shelf-life through application of nanotechnology not
only good for its efficacy but also minimizes the risk of environmental contamination
(Chhipa 2019; Mishra et al. 2014).
5.1 Smart Nanofertilizers
One of the recent advancements in nanotechnology application in agriculture
is nanofertilizers. Several studies revealed the higher efficacy of nanofertilizers
compared to normal fertilizers which could be explained by its nanosize and high
volume to surface area. Various trails have been reported from application of silver,
iron, zinc, calcium, titanium, carbon nanotubes, molybdenum and silica as nanofertilizers for different crop systems. The findings of these studies have mentioned
that nanomaterials were more efficient to increase root and shoot length, vegetative biomass, chlorophyll content, phytochemicals and seed germination at certain