Microbe-based bioreactor system for bioremediation of organic contaminants: Present and future perspective

In past few decades, environmental pollution has been increased because of human activities. Pollutants have toxic effects on human health and environment. Thus remediation of these pollutants is required to clean up the surroundings and reducing the health hazardous risk. Bioremediation is an environment-friendly process to clean pollutants from the surroundings. In this process, pollutants are converted into less toxic or environment-friendly compounds by microbes. Microbial remediation can be applied ex situ or in situ conditions. However, in situ bioremediation is a slow process that is difficult to optimize and control. To resolve these issues, bioreactors are developed. Bioreactors provide optimum condition for the growth of microorganisms, and microbial biodegradation mechanisms are used in the bioremediation processes to accomplish the desired remediation targets. Bioreactors have a different mode of operations such as batch, fed batch, and continuous with a range of designs, including slurry-phase, partitioning, stirred-tank, biofilters, bioscrubbers, trickle-bed, fluidized-bed, packed-bed, airlift, and membrane bioreactor. This chapter provides more insight into the major bioreactors, their design, advantages, and limitations.