Emerging and Eco-Friendly Approaches for Waste Management

Rapid industrialization is a serious concern in the context of a healthy environment. With the growth in the number of industries, the waste generated is also growing exponentially. The various chemical processes operating in the manufacturing industry generate a large number of by-products, which are largely harmful and toxic pollutants, are generally discharged into natural water bodies or are dumped. Once these pollutants enter the mobile atmosphere, they react with the atmospheric gases and are potential precursors of more highly toxic pollutants. They are also taken up by life forms, and as a result of bio-magnification, they affect the entire food chain. They have severe adverse effects on all life forms, including on human health. People living close to industrial sites are directly affected and are therefore more susceptible. Various physico-chemical and biological approaches are available for the removal of toxic pollutants, but unfortunately these are often ineffective, and traditional clean up practices are inefficient. Alternate methods such as biological approaches utilizing microorganisms (bacterial/fungi/algae), green plants or their enzymes to degrade or detoxify environmental pollutants such as endocrine disruptors, toxic metals, pesticides, dyes, petroleum hydrocarbons and phenolic compounds, offer eco- friendly approaches. Such eco-friendly approaches are often more effective than traditional practices, and are safe for both the industry workers and the environment. As such there is a need for detailed information on various types of pollutants, their effects on the environment, humans, animals and plants as well as on eco-friendly approaches for their degradation/detoxification. This volume offers a comprehensive overview of different types of toxic environmental pollutants discharged from various natural and anthropogenic sources, their toxicological effects on the environment, humans, animals and plants as well as their biodegradation and bioremediationusing emerging and eco-friendly approaches (Anammox technology, advanced oxidation processes, membrane bioreactors, membrane processes, GMOs etc.), microbial degradation (bacteria, fungi, algae etc.), phytoremediation, biotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and also pollutant remediation through biochar and PGPR. It provides a compilation of the latest methods, such as the use of nanoparticles in industrial clean up, and computer simulated designs for waste prevention. It also addresses the issue of electronic waste management, shedding light on the economic assessment of waste management. Further, it includes chapters on industry-specific requirements and methods of waste treatment. The book increases the knowledge base of a wide range of students, scientists and researchers engaged in microbiology, biotechnology, environmental sciences, offering fundamental and advanced information on environmental problems, challenges and bioremediation approaches used for the remediation of contaminated sites. It is also a valuable resource for those interested in environmentally safe waste management.