Bioremediation of Heavy Metals by the Genus Bacillus

Monika Wróbel (), Wojciech Śliwakowski, Paweł Kowalczyk, Karol Kramkowski and Jakub Dobrzyński ()
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Monika Wróbel: Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
Wojciech Śliwakowski: Institute of Technology and Life Sciences—National Research Institute, Falenty, 3 Hrabska Avenue, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland
Paweł Kowalczyk: Department of Animal Nutrition, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jabłonna, Poland
Karol Kramkowski: Department of Physical Chemistry, Medical University of Białystok, Kilińskiego 1 Str., 15-089 Białystok, Poland
Jakub Dobrzyński: Institute of Technology and Life Sciences—National Research Institute, Falenty, 3 Hrabska Avenue, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Environmental contamination with heavy metals is one of the major problems caused by human activity. Bioremediation is an effective and eco-friendly approach that can reduce heavy metal contamination in the environment. Bioremediation agents include bacteria of the genus Bacillus , among others. The best-described species in terms of the bioremediation potential of Bacillus spp. Are B. subtilis , B. cereus , or B. thuringiensis . This bacterial genus has several bioremediation strategies, including biosorption, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)-mediated biosorption, bioaccumulation, or bioprecipitation. Due to the above-mentioned strategies, Bacillus spp. strains can reduce the amounts of metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, arsenic or nickel in the environment. Moreover, strains of the genus Bacillus can also assist phytoremediation by stimulating plant growth and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the soil. Therefore, Bacillus spp. is one of the best sustainable solutions for reducing heavy metals from various environments, especially soil.

Keywords: biological removal of heavy metals; spore-forming bacteria; sustainable environmental management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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