Role of Microbes and Microbiomes in Wastewater Treatment for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration

Industrial development improves our life quality. Nevertheless, the industries, such as those producing paper and pharmaceutical products, generate large amounts of industrial wastewater. This wastewater contains various pollutants, which are organic and inorganic. Various physical, chemical, and biological methods have been employed to eliminate the pollutants. Both physical and chemical methods involve more capital and produce secondary contaminants. During wastewater treatment, the wastewater microbiome facilitates the degradation of organic matter, reduction of nutrients, and removal of pathogens and parasites. For the purification of water and the preservation of the ecosystem, microbes in wastewater treatment are crucial. However, little is known about how microbial diversity is controlled and for what reasons. The varied microbial community supports flocculation, heterotrophic respiration, nitrification under aerobic conditions, and denitrification under anaerobic conditions. Although recycled water is reinstated for recreational and agricultural use, biomonitoring is vital for assessing treatment effectiveness. Microorganism-based biological treatment is developing as an effective and environmentally friendly method. This chapter thoroughly introduces biological wastewater treatment, growth and kinetics, and different microbial community types that include bacteria and fungus, actinomycetes, algae, plants, and the range of microbial wastewater treatment, among other topics.

Keywords: Aerobic process, Biological treatment, Anaerobic process, Bioreactors, Mycoremediation, Microbes, Phytoremediation.