Microorganisms based biological agents in wastewater treatment and agriculture: Potential use and benefits

Abstract

Human activities and population growth have placed the environment under increasing stress. Furthermore, indiscriminate use of natural resources is accompanied by increased local and global pollution levels, which are reflected in imbalances in our ecosystems. The generation of large quantities of wastewater with a high organic content and toxicants is one obvious product of excessive consumption. It has been known for many years that environmental discharges of high loads of organic matter can result in oxygen depletion in receiving waters due to stimulated microbial activity. This oxygen depletion and the presence of trace toxicants found in wastes also negatively influence ecosystems, including reduced biodiversity and environmental health. Therefore, negative environmental impacts have driven our need to understand the effect of pollution on water bodies and develop proper measures to reduce discharges, including treatment processes. Different technologies are available to treat wastes. However, biological wastewater treatment methods are most valuable because their economic benefits are high, especially when coupled with waste stabilization and resource recovery.