Novel Microbiological and Metabolic Approaches Applied to Pollutant Matrices Degradation

A special issue of Applied Microbiology (ISSN 2673-8007).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2025) | Viewed by 1894

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Department of Research, Development and Innovation, Rousselet Environment, 14 Boulevard Charles Peguy, 30100 Alès, France
Interests: biochemical engineering; wastewater treatment; membrane separation; microbial interaction; synthetic biology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increase in public awareness of topics concerning the impact of anthropogenic activities on the environment and human health requires robust efforts by the scientific community to corroborate generic informations. Among the most sensitive subjects are the treatment and degradation of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and inorganic pollutants. This broad spectrum includes PFAs, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals or nitrates, sulphates and phosphates.

The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together original research articles and reviews that have a multidisciplinary approach, with a particular focus on the investigation of metabolic and microbiological implications for the understanding of the most suitable process solution, its impact and the concrete applicative implementation.

Dr. Gaetano Zuccaro
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
  • inorganic pollutants
  • metabolic and microbiological implications

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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21 pages, 12697 KB  
Article
What Can Contribute to Weakening of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Cryogels Used for Cell (Self)Immobilization?
by Olga Senko, Nikolay Stepanov, Olga Maslova and Elena Efremenko
Appl. Microbiol. 2025, 5(3), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol5030097 - 12 Sep 2025
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Abstract
This work was undertaken in order to identify the presence of changes in the characteristics of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) cryogels that can contribute to the degradation of such polymer matrices under the influence of their contact with various microorganisms used in immobilized form [...] Read more.
This work was undertaken in order to identify the presence of changes in the characteristics of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) cryogels that can contribute to the degradation of such polymer matrices under the influence of their contact with various microorganisms used in immobilized form in different biotechnological processes using various complex media and conditions. Immobilized cells of bacteria, yeasts, microalgae, fungi, and microbial consortia were involved in the investigations. It was established that the presence of microorganisms can indirectly (through media transformed by them, in particular, containing lipids) or directly (through high rates of metabolite production, in particular, the fast accumulation of gases in the pores of polymer matrices, or due to the colonization of cryogels (self)immobilization by fungi with the growing mycelium) decrease rheological characteristics of PVA cryogel. Such weakening of PVA cryogels can be expected as a result of the first stage of further degradation of polymer matrices. The values of both the modulus of elasticity and the shear modulus of PVA cryogels confirmed this. The effect of high pressure accumulated in the reactors with PVA cryogel-immobilized cells, as well as their use in flow systems, was not revealed. These factors can be taken into account for the sustainable use of matrices based on PVA cryogels as biocatalysts with microorganisms or soil-structuring elements in artificial or natural environments. Full article
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6 pages, 200 KB  
Opinion
A Synergistic Approach to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Treatment That Includes Microbial Bioremediation and Considers Degradation Fluxes
by Gaetano Zuccaro
Appl. Microbiol. 2025, 5(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol5010010 - 21 Jan 2025
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Abstract
The aim of the author is to propose a change of the approach to the management of fluorinated pollutants in waste and water streams, in which the linear treatment of pollutants could be replaced by the integration of a synergistic system including biological [...] Read more.
The aim of the author is to propose a change of the approach to the management of fluorinated pollutants in waste and water streams, in which the linear treatment of pollutants could be replaced by the integration of a synergistic system including biological treatments and a focus on the secondary streams produced by conventional and less conventional technological solutions in order to avoid the translation of the problem or, even worse, the production of equally harmful compounds [...] Full article
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