Bioremediation:An Ecological Solution to Textile Effluents

Rapid technological advances, speedy growth in urban sector and unplanned human settlement in the cities have resulted in the pollution problem. Industrial and nuclear energy installation produce large quantities of toxic or hazardous wastes, which have the potential to contaminate the environment. Coloring matter, acidic effluents, suspended solids, waxes, unreacted dyes, starch products, heavy metals etc. which are releasing at different stages of textile processing. Water which emerge out after use from industries is termed as ‘industrial effluents‘ and this waste water have high BOD, pH as well as temperature.

All the conventional remediation methods used for polluted environments have specific benefits and limitations. The use of microorganisms and plant species to control and destroy contamination is of increasing interest to minimize some of these pollution problems called ‘Bioremediation‘. Bioremediation can serve as a prospective method for decontamination and rehabilitation of contaminated sites. Bacteria, algae, fungi and yeast have all been found to absorb and breakdown metal compounds. Certain lichens were used as bio-accumulator of heavy metals.

As compared to the conventional remediation methods, bioremediation is eco-friendly as well as easy to implement. The future of bioremediation, comprise of ongoing research work and have to go through a developmental phase and many technical barriers. Several hyper-accumulator species still need to be highlighted and implemented for successful future of bioremediation programmes.