Microbial Functionality towards Environmental Pollution

Dear Colleagues,

Pollutants that enter the environment are transformed into an insoluble form largely by microorganisms. This is a consequence of microbes’ very diverse range of metabolic processes, which allows them to break down a similarly diverse range of chemical substances. However, many cellular poison pollutants also impede microbial growth and activity. Elemental cycling in the environment is carried out through microbial activity; therefore, any reduction in microbial growth will inevitably detrimentally impact microbial activity. Pollutants may affect processes such as nitrification, nitrogen fixation and carbon mineralization. However, microbes often employ contaminants as food sources, which may result in significant, frequently unmanaged and uncontrolled expansion of microbial biomass. As a result, when determining the likely disturbance impact of a pollutant on the environment, we can distinguish between positive disturbance impact, which occurs when a pollutant stimulates a process, and negative disturbance impact, which occurs when a pollutant inhibits an important microbial process. The classic example is the rise in bacterial (coliforms) after sewage contamination of water passageways. An increase in microbial populations may indicate pollution. This Special Issue will focus on microbiological activities and catalytic activities aimed at removing organic/inorganic substances from wastewater. Microbes play an important role in bioelectrochemical systems. We welcome any novel concepts or theoretical writings on microbial activity in bioelectrochemical systems.

Dr. Asim Ali Yaqoob
Dr. Fida Hussain
Guest Editors

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• microbial growth
• microorganism applications for environmental pollution
• bioelectrochemical system
• nitrogen fixation
• carbon mineralization