Role of Microbial Nanotechnology in Bioremediation of Heavy Metals

Toxic metals from industrial waste accumulate in agricultural soils and enter the food chain. This has an impact on the natural ecology and affects human food security. Bioremediation of industrial effluents through nanotechnology integrated with microorganisms has become a key field in a green approach based on biomaterial science, nanoscience, and nanobiotechnology. In comparison with conventional approaches, the generation of nanomaterials with the help of microorganisms is cost-effective and eco-friendly. At the same time, it provides a superior avenue for sustainable and non-toxic effluent remediation. In this regard, the reduction and recovery of heavy metal ions from industrial waste using bacteria as efficient biofactories has also gained prominence over the last decade and should be pursued on a commercial scale in order to exploit its full potential; however, the process needs to be comprehensively optimized. Developments in the field of nanoparticle biosynthesis will boost the industrial economy by generating green energy. In this chapter, the authors emphasized the importance of environmental remediation of heavy metals by microbes.