Bioremediation of toxic heavy metals : does it work in practice - Essay Example

Bioremediation and heavy metals Bioremediation of toxic heavy metals is the issue of a great interest for the modern researchers and scientists. There are many options of the modern science in accordance with which it is possible to deal with toxic heavy metals. Swati Pattnaik and M. Vikram Reddy of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, at Pondicherry University, in Puducherry, India devoted their research and study to the salvation power of earthworms and how they are able to extract heavy metals.

They selected certain type of worms, such as Eudrilus eugeniae, Eisenia fetida and Perionyx excavates (Pattnaik, Swati and Reddy, 2012).  Currently there is a large growth of population in the developing countries and organic waste should be wisely disposed. The natural resources can be united and in this case “the process of vermicomposting allows such waste materials to be remediated and the compost used subsequently for use in growing human food without the risk of accumulating heavy metals in crops” (Barker&Bryson, 2002).

The researchers, who did this conclusion also claim that ? of different heavy materials can be removed by worms from soil. The species of the E. . In the process of enzymes activation the assimilation of metal ions is mediated by worms. In another research conducted by Turpeinen (2002) it is claimed that different bacteria, fungi, algae and actinomycetes are able to consume large amount of heavy metals. The researcher underlines a special ability of Chlorella, Anabaena inaequalis, Westiellopsis prolifica, Stigeoclonium tenue, Synechococcus sp.

pacify heavy metals. Nevertheless it is always difficult to choose appropriate strategies for heavy metals extraction. Actually, the scientists of previous years were focused on biosorption (a combination of absorption and adsorption). There was a higher level of Cd++ and Ni++ I in comparison with laboratory cells. Fungi are able to absorb heavy metals by their cells too (Malik, 2004). Different types of cells are effective in a serious struggle against heavy metals presence in soil and water.

Firstly, it is possible to remove heavy metals in accordance with the following mechanisms: (a) Independent accumulation of heavy metals in the process of metabolism. The positive charge of ions attracts negative charges of heavy metals.  It is possible to illustrate this process by the following example: “Rhizopus arrhizus adsorption depends on ionic radius of Li3+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Ba2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+. However, binding of Hg2+, Ag2+, Cd2+, A13+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Pb2+ strongly depends on concentration of yeast cells” (Jayabarath, Sundar, Arulmurugan, Giridhar, 2009). (b) Dependent accumulation of heavy metals in the process of metabolism.

Heavy metal ions are transferred to cells basing on the cell membrane. Nevertheless, ions are precipitated around the cells, and are collected