Microbial Regulatory Mechanisms in Remediation of Industrial Wastewater and Contaminated Soils

With the increase in population and the development of industry, many pollutants are constantly discharged into the environment, causing water and soil pollution, and threatening the health of human beings. During the last several decades, various treatment technologies have been developed for removing or minimizing heavy metals and refractory organic pollutants in industrial wastewater and contaminated soils. Many microorganisms have been proven to play great roles in the remediation process. Thus, a better understanding of microbial regulatory mechanisms, including microbial-environment interactions and co-metabolic mechanisms of microorganisms in the remediation process, will provide a basis for improving the efficiency of remediation.

This Research Topic aims to feature Original Research articles, Reviews, Opinions, and Perspectives addressing the current research progress on microbiological remediation processes, co-metabolic mechanisms, highly efficient degrading microorganism bioprospecting, and application in industrial wastewater treatment and contaminated soil remediation. This Research Topic also considers the environmental impact assessment of microbiological remediation applications.

Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) New development on microbiological remediation application in industrial wastewater and contaminated soils, including bioprospecting, identification, and immobilization of microorganisms and their underlying mechanisms, genetically engineered microorganisms for enhanced remediation, and novel combinations of selected microorganisms for synergistic removal of pollutants

2) Characterization of the interactions of functional microbes with pollutants or other microorganisms used in the microbiological remediation process

3) Identification of co-metabolic mechanisms, microbiological degradation pathways, and transformation of pollutants in industrial wastewater treatment and contaminated soil remediation processes

4) Assessment of the risk and benefit of microbiological remediation application in industrial wastewater and contaminated soils to human and environmental health.

Keywords: microbiological regulatory mechanisms, microbial-environment interactions, industrial wastewater treatment, contaminated soil remediation, co-metabolic mechanisms, biodegradation pathways, transformation of pollutants

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.