Shaji Panchami Sreeja, Vincent Salom Gnana Thanga, Subburamu Karthikeyan
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Centre for Post Harvest Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641003, India.
World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2025 Apr 7;41(4):125. doi: 10.1007/s11274-025-04345-3.
Industrial processes contribute significantly to environmental pollution, particularly by releasing sulfate-rich wastewater containing toxic metals and organic pollutants. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), being anaerobic microorganisms, are capable of reducing sulfate to sulfide, which precipitates harmful heavy metals and facilitates bioremediation. This review explores the potential of SRB in industrial wastewater treatment, focusing on their roles in the bioremediation of sulfates, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Laboratory-scale experiments demonstrated that SRB effectively reduces sulfate concentrations and removes heavy metals such as zinc, cadmium, and chromium through sulfidogenesis. The treatment process shows promise as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical methods. However, challenges related to hydrogen sulfide emissions and process scalability persist. Future research focuses on enhancing SRB activity through optimized bioreactor designs while effectively controlling HS release. This review emphasizes SRB as a promising candidate for industrial applications in wastewater treatment and environmental management.
工业生产过程对环境污染有重大影响，特别是通过排放含有有毒金属和有机污染物的富含硫酸盐的废水。硫酸盐还原菌（SRB）作为厌氧微生物，能够将硫酸盐还原为硫化物，使有害重金属沉淀并促进生物修复。本综述探讨了硫酸盐还原菌在工业废水处理中的潜力，重点关注它们在硫酸盐、重金属和持久性有机污染物（POPs）生物修复中的作用。实验室规模的实验表明，硫酸盐还原菌通过硫化作用有效地降低了硫酸盐浓度，并去除了锌、镉和铬等重金属。该处理过程有望成为传统化学方法的环保替代方案。然而，与硫化氢排放和工艺可扩展性相关的挑战依然存在。未来的研究重点是通过优化生物反应器设计来提高硫酸盐还原菌的活性，同时有效控制硫化氢的释放。本综述强调硫酸盐还原菌是废水处理和环境管理工业应用的有前途的候选者。
