Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biotechnology for Green Future of Wastewater Treatment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Cost-efficient Wastewater Treatment Technologies

Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC,volume 118))

Abstract

A scarcity of water supply and inadequate wastewater treatment combined with intensified industrial activity have led to increased contamination in lakes, rivers, and other water bodies in developing countries. Nevertheless, some common techniques for wastewater treatment are not practicable for developing countries. The biotechnological approach is considered an important tool for wastewater treatment. The biological method is the method of choice for nutrient removal from wastewater because of its low cost and environmentally friendly. Also, it can be respected as a dynamic force for integrated environmental protection that leads to sustainable development. In this chapter, we show the useful tools of biotechnology to wastewater treatment such as activated sludge, membrane bioreactors, media filters, anaerobic treatment, biosorption, biocatalysts, soil biotechnology, and hydroponic system that are feasible in the context of the developing countries in addition to the role of the genetic engineering in this context.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 299.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Devi R (2013) Evaluation of low-cost bio-technology for community-based domestic wastewater treatment. In: Salar RKG, Siwach SK, Duhan PJS (eds) Biotechnology: prospects and applications, vol 17. Springer, pp 227–234

    Google Scholar 

  2. Zhang D, Jinadasa Q, Gersberg KBSN, Liu RM, Ng Y, Tan WJ, S. K. (2014) Application of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in developing countries e A review of recent developments (2000-2013). J Environ Manag 141:116–131

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Crini G, Lichtfouse E (2019) Advantages and disadvantages of techniques used for wastewater treatment. Environ Chem Lett 17:145–155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0785-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Gallego-Schmid A, Tarpan RRZ (2019) Life cycle assessment of wastewater treatment in developing countries: A review. Water Res 153:63–79

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hodaifa G, Paladino O, Malvis A, Seyedsalehi M, Neviani M (2019) Green techniques for wastewaters. Interface Sci Technol 30:217–240

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Singh RL, Singh RP (2019) Advances in biological treatment of industrial waste water and their recycling for a sustainable future. Applied environmental science and engineering for a sustainable future. Springer

    Google Scholar 

  7. Magwaza S, Magwaza T, Odindo LS, Mditshwa AO (2020) Hydroponic technology as decentralized system for domestic wastewater treatment and vegetable production in urban agriculture: a review. Sci Total Environ 698:134154

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Owa FD (2013) Water pollution: sources, effects, control and management. Mediterr J Soc Sci 4(8):65–68

    Google Scholar 

  9. Naushad M, Rajendran S, Lichtfouse E (2020) Green methods for wastewater treatment. Environmental chemistry for a sustainable world, vol 35. Springer

    Google Scholar 

  10. Vasantha T, Jyothi NVV (2020) Green technologies for wastewater treatment. In: Naushad M, Rajendran S, Lichtfouse E (eds) Green methods for wastewater treatment. Environmental chemistry for a sustainable world, vol vol 35. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16427-0_9

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Li Y, Yanga G, Li L, Suna Y (2018) Bioaugmentation for overloaded anaerobic digestion recovery with acid-tolerant methanogenic enrichment. Waste Manag 79:744–751

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Buyukgungor H, Gurel L (2009) The role of biotechnology on the treatment of wastes. Afr J Biotechnol 8(25):7253–7262

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chen L, Feng W, Fan J, Zhang K, Gu Z (2019) Removal of silver nanoparticles in aqueous solution by activated sludge: mechanism and characteristics. Sci Total Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135155

  14. Asia IO, Oladoja NA, Bamuza-Pemu EE (2006) Treatment of textile sludge using anaerobic technology. Afr J Biotechnol 5(18):1678–1683

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Zeng Z, Zhang M, Kang D, Li Y, Yu T, Li W, Xu D, Zhang W, Shan S, Zheng P (2019) Enhanced anaerobic treatment of swine wastewater with exogenous granular sludge: performance and mechanism. Sci Total Environ 697:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  16. Bertanza G, Pedrazzani R (2011) Removal of trace pollutants by application of MBR technology for wastewater treatment. In: Green technologies for wastewater treatment. Energy recovery and emerging compounds removal. Springer briefs in molecular science, pp 31–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1430-4

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Wenten G, Friatnasary DL, Khoiruddin K, Setiadi T, Boopathy R (2019) Extractive membrane bioreactor (embr): recent advances and applications. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122424

  18. Khana M, Ngo A, Guo HH, Liu W, Chang Y, Nguyen SW, Nghiem DD, L. D. and Liang, H. (2018) Can membrane bioreactor be a smart option for water treatment? Bioresour Technol Rep 4:80–87

    Google Scholar 

  19. Li L, Suwanate S, Visvanathan C (2017) Performance evaluation of attached growth membrane bioreactor for treating polluted surface water. Bioresour Technol 240:3–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Xu Z, Song X, Li Y, Li G, Luo W (2019) Removal of antibiotics by sequencing-batch membrane bioreactor for swine wastewater treatment. Sci Total Environ 684:23–30

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Park JB, Tanner K, Craggs CC, R. J. (2018) Assessment of sludge characteristics from a biological trickling filter (BTF) system. J Water Process Eng 22:172–179

    Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang Y, Liu J, Li J (2020) Comparison of four methods to solve clogging issues in a fungi-based biotrickling filter. Biochem Eng J 153:107401

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Tanikawa D, Fujise R, Kondo Y, Fujihira T, Seo S (2018) Elimination of hydrogen sulfide from biogas by a two-stage trickling filter system using effluent from anaerobic–aerobic wastewater treatment. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 130:98–101

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Rana S, Gupta N, Ranac RS (2018) Removal of organic pollutant with the use of rotating biological contactor. Mater Today Proc 5:4218–4224

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Wang J, Chen C (2006) Biosorption of heavy metals by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A review. Biotechnol Adv 24:427–451

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Vijayaraghavan K, Balasubramanian R (2015) Is biosorption suitable for decontamination of metal-bearing wastewaters? A critical review on the state-of-the-art of biosorption processes and future directions. J Environ Manag 160:283–296

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Beni AA, Esmaeili A (2020) Biosorption, an efficient method for removing heavy metals from industrial effluents: a review. Environ Technol Innov 17:100503

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kayalvizhi K, Kathiresan K (2019) Microbes from wastewater treated mangrove soil and their heavy metal accumulation and Zn solubilization. Biocatal Agric Biotechnol 22:101379

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hadiani M, Darani R, Rahimifard KK, N.and Younesi, H. (2018) Biosorption of low concentration levels of Lead (II) and cadmium (II) from aqueous solution by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: response surface methodology. Biocatal Agric Biotechnol 15:25–34

    Google Scholar 

  30. Chen W, Wu C, James EK, Chang J (2008) Metal biosorption capability of Cupriavidus taiwanensis and its effects on heavy metal removal by nodulated Mimosa pudica. J Hazard Mater 151:364–371

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Rose PK, Devi R (2018) Heavy metal tolerance and adaptability assessment of indigenous filamentous fungi isolated from industrial wastewater and sludge samples. Beni-Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci 7:688–694

    Google Scholar 

  32. Velvizhi G, VenkataMoha S (2011) Biocatalyst behavior under self-induced electrogenic microenvironment in comparison with anaerobic treatment: evaluation with pharmaceutical wastewater for multi-pollutant removal. Bioresour Technol 102:10784–10793

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Selvakumar P, Sivashanmugam P (2018) Multi-hydrolytic biocatalyst from organic solid waste and its application in municipal waste activated sludge pre-treatment towards energy recovery. Process Saf Environ Prot 117:1–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Sreelatha S, Nagendranatha Reddy C, Velvizhi G, Venkata Mohan S (2015) Reductive behaviour of acid azo dye based wastewater: biocatalyst activity in conjunction with enzymatic and bio-electro catalytic evaluation. Bioresour Technol 188:2–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Kamble SJ, Chakravarthy Y, Singh A, Chubilleau C, Starkl M, Bawa I (2017) A soil biotechnology system for wastewater treatment: technical, hygiene, environmental LCA and economic aspects. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:13315–13334

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Kanani H, Patel B (2017) Domestic wastewater treatment by soil biotechnology. IJARIIE 3(2):4143–4147

    Google Scholar 

  37. Arvindbhai CE, Vyas DS (2016) Treatment of petrochemical wastewater by soil biotechnology. IJARIIE 2(3):492–496

    Google Scholar 

  38. Valipour A, Raman VK, Ahn Y (2015) Effectiveness of domestic wastewater treatment using a bio-hedge water hyacinth wetland system. Water 7:329–347

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Valipour A, Ahn Y (2017) Green technologies and environmental sustainability: a review and perspective of constructed wetlands as a green technology in decentralization practices. Springer, pp 1–45

    Google Scholar 

  40. Carvalho RS, Bastos CRG, Souza CF (2018) Influence of the use of wastewater on nutrient absorption and production of lettuce grown in a hydroponic system. Agric Water Manag 203:311–321

    Google Scholar 

  41. Magwaza ST, Magwaza LS, Odindo AO, Mditshw A (2020) Hydroponic technology as decentralised system for domestic wastewater treatment and vegetable production in urban agriculture: A review. Sci Total Environ 698:134–154

    Google Scholar 

  42. Ndulini SF, Sithole GM, Mthembu MS (2018) Investigation of nutrients and faecal coliforms removal in wastewater using a hydroponic system. Phys Chem Earth 106:68–72

    Google Scholar 

  43. Leisinger T (1983) Microorganisms and xenobiotic compounds. Experientia 39:1183–1220

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Liu ST, Sulfita JM (1993) Ecology and evolution of microbial populations for bioremediation. Trends Biotechnol 11:344–352

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Zeph LR, Onaga MA, Stotzky G (1988) Transduction of Escherichia coli by bacteriophage P1 in soil. Appl Environ Microbiol 54:1731–1737

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Saye DJ, Ogunseitan A, Sayler GS, Miller RV (1990) Transduction of linked chromosomal genes between Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains during incubation in situ in a freshwater habitat. Appl Environ Microbiol 56:140–145

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Cabezon E, Ripoll-Rozada J, Pena A, de la Cruz F, Arechaga I (2015) Towards an integrated model of bacterial conjugation. FEMS Microbiol Rev 39:81–95

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Dennis J (2005) The evolution of IncP catabolic plasmids. Curr Opin Biotechnol 16(3):291–298

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Kishida K, Inoue K, Ohtsubo Y, Nagata Y, Tsuda M (2017) Host range of the conjugative transfer system of IncP-9 naphthalene-catabolic plasmid NAH7 and characterization of its oriT region and relaxase. Appl Environ Microbiol 83:e02359–e02316. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02359-16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Burlage RS, Bemis LA, Layton AC, Sayler GS, Larimer F (1990) Comparative genetic organization of incompatibility group P degradative plasmids. J Bacteriol 172:6818–6825

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Shintani M, Urata M, Inoue K, Eto K, Habe H, Omori T, Yamane H, Nojiri H (2007) The Sphingomonas plasmid pCAR3 is involved in complete mineralization of carbazole. J Bacteriol 189:2007–2020

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Eva MT, Dirk S (2003) The role of mobile genetic elements in bacterial adaptation to xenobiotic organic compounds. Curr Opin Biotechnol 14(3):262–269

    Google Scholar 

  53. Werlen C, Kohler HPE, van der Meer JR (1996) The broad substrate chlorobenzene dioxygenase and cis-chlorobenzene dihydrodiol dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas sp. P51 are linked evolutionarily to the enzymes for benzene and toluene degradation. J Biol Chem 271:4009–4016

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Beil S, Timmis K, Pieper D (1999) Genetic and biochemical analysis of the tec operon suggests a route for evolution of chlorobenzene degradation genes. J Bacteriol 181:341–346

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Toussaint A, Merlin C, Monchy S, Benotmane MA, Leplae R, Mergeay M, Springael D (2003) The biphenyl-and 4-chlorobiphenyl-catabolic transposon Tn4371, a member of a new family of genomic islands related to IncP and Ti plasmids. Appl Environ Microbiol 69:4837–4845

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Eduardo D, Abel F, María AP, Jose LG (2001) Biodegradation of aromatic compounds by Escherichia coli. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 65(4):523–569

    Google Scholar 

  57. Chen S, Wilson DB (1997) Genetic engineering of bacteria and their potential for Hg2+ bioremediation. Biodegradation 8:97–103

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Bae W, Chen W, Mulchandani A, Mehra R (2000) Enhanced bioaccumulation of heavy metals by bacterial cells displaying synthetic phytochelatins. Biotechnol Bioeng 70:518–523

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Bae W, Mehra RK, Mulchandani A, Chen W (2001) Genetic engineering of Escherichia coli for enhanced uptake and bioaccumulation of mercury. Appl Environ Microbiol 67:5335–5338

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Bae W, Wu CH, Kostal J, Mulchandani A, Chen W (2003) Enhanced mercury biosorption by bacterial cells with surface-displayed MerR. Appl Environ Microbiol 69:3176–3180

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Cindy HW, Thomas KW, Mulchandani A, Chen W (2006) Engineering plant-microbe symbiosis for rhizoremediation of heavy metals. Appl Environ Microbiol 72(2):1129–1134

    Google Scholar 

  62. Michael GB, Vasantha N (2000) Industrial wastewater bioreactors: sources of novel microorganisms for biotechnology. Trends Biotechnol 18(12):501–505

    Google Scholar 

  63. Naresh KS, Aiyagari R, Kannan P (2011) Bacterial degradation of aromatic xenobiotic compounds: an overview on metabolic pathways and molecular approaches. In: Microorganisms in environmental management. Springer, pp 201–220

    Google Scholar 

  64. Ghosal D, You IS (1989) Operon structure and nucleotide homology of the chlorocatechol oxidation genes of plasmids pJP4 and pAC27. Gene 83:225–232

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Perkins EJ, Gordon MP, Caceres O, Lurquin PF (1990) Organization and sequence analysis of the 2,4-dichlorophenol hydroxylase and dichlorocatechol oxidative operons of plasmid pJP4. J Bacteriol 172(5):2351–2359

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Oltmanns RH, Hans GR, Walter R (1988) Degradation of 1,4-dichlorobenzene by enriched and constructed bacteria. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 28:609–616

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Stein HP, Rafael NP, Elisabet A (2018) Potential for CRISPR genetic engineering to increase xenobiotic degradation capacities in model fungi. In: Approaches in Bioremediation. Springer, Cham, pp 61–78

    Google Scholar 

  68. Partila AM (2013) Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in petroleum oil contaminating the environment. Ph. D. (Microbiology)

    Google Scholar 

  69. Haro MA, de Lorenzo V (2001) Metabolic engineering of bacteria for environmental applications: construction of Pseudomonas strains for biodegradation of 2-chlorotoluene. J Biotechnol 85:103–113

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Walker AW, Keasling JD (2002) Metabolic engineering of Pseudomonas putida for the utilization of parathion as a carbon and energy source. Biotechnol Bioeng 78:715–721

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Monti MR, Smania AM, Fabro G, Alvarez ME, Argarana CE (2005) Engineering Pseudomonas fluorescens for biodegradation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene. Appl Environ Microbiol 71:8864–8872

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Liu L, Wu JF, Ma YF, Wang SY, Zhao GP, Liu SJ (2007) A novel deaminase involved in chloronitrobenzene and nitrobenzene degradation with Comamonas sp. strain CNB-1. J Bacteriol 189(7):2677–2682

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Chen YX, Liu H, Zhu LC, Jin YF (2004) Cloning and characterization of a chromosome-encoded catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa ZD 4-3. Microbiologia 73:802–809

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Biological Sciences, Home Economics Faculty, Al-Azhar University, Tanta, Egypt

    Marwa Darweesh, Amina M. G. Zedan & Heba Elbasiuny

  2. Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

    Antar El-Banna

  3. Central Laboratory of Environmental Studies, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

    Antar El-Banna & Fathy Elbehiry

Authors
  1. Marwa Darweesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amina M. G. Zedan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Antar El-Banna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Heba Elbasiuny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Fathy Elbehiry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering Department, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), Alexandria, Egypt

    Mahmoud Nasr

  2. Water and Water Structures Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Abdelazim M. Negm

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Darweesh, M., Zedan, A.M.G., El-Banna, A., Elbasiuny, H., Elbehiry, F. (2021). Biotechnology for Green Future of Wastewater Treatment. In: Nasr, M., Negm, A.M. (eds) Cost-efficient Wastewater Treatment Technologies. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 118. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2021_788

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation