Novel biofiltration methods for the treatment of heavy metals from industrial wastewater
Abstract
Most heavy metals are well-known toxic and carcinogenic agents and when discharged into the wastewater represent a serious threat to the human population and the fauna and flora of the receiving water bodies. In the present review paper, the sources have discussed the industrial source of heavy metals contamination in water, their toxic effects on the fauna and flora and the regulatory threshold limits of these heavy metals. The various parameters of the biofiltration processes, their mechanism for heavy metals removal along with the kinetics of biofilters and its modeling aspects have been discussed. The comparison of various physico-chemical treatment and the advantages of biofiltration over other conventional processes for treatment of heavy metals contaminated wastewater have also been discussed. The applications of genetic engineering in the modification of the microorganisms for increasing the efficiency of the biofiltration process for heavy metals removal have been critically analyzed. The results show that the efficiency of the process can be increased three to six folds with the application of recombinant microbial treatment.
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The atomic masses of heavy metals range from 63.5 to 200.6, and their specific gravities are more than 5.0.
“The atomic masses of heavy metals range from 63.5 to 200.6, and their specific gravities are more than 5.0.161”
From Emerging nanotechnology approaches for sustainable water treatment and heavy metals removal: a comprehensive review (2025) · cites this paper as [161]
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- Authors
- Srivastava, N. K., & Majumder, C. B.
- Affiliations
- Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IN)
- Corresponding author
- Srivastava, N.K.
- Venue
- Journal of Hazardous Materials
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-02
- Volume
- 151
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-8
- ISSN
- 0304-3894 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2038570494
- Cited by
- 795
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 81 · 2022: 88 · 2021: 78 · 2020: 71 · 2019: 66 · 2018: 61 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 30
- FWCI
- 0.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Hazardous Materials (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Heavy Metal Pollution Remediation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Heavy metals in environment
- Keywords
- biofiltration, heavy metal removal, industrial wastewater treatment, heavy metal toxicity, genetically modified microorganisms, recombinant microorganisms
- MeSH terms
- Bacteria, Biodegradation, Environmental, Filtration, Fungi, Genetic Engineering, Industrial Waste, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Metals, Heavy, Eukaryota
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