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Abstract
Most heavy metals are well-known toxic and carcinogenic agents and when discharged
into the wastewater represent a serious threat to the human population and the fauna
and flora of the receiving water bodies. In the present review paper, the sources
have discussed the industrial source of heavy metals contamination in water, their
toxic effects on the fauna and flora and the regulatory threshold limits of these
heavy metals. The various parameters of the biofiltration processes, their mechanism
for heavy metals removal along with the kinetics of biofilters and its modeling aspects
have been discussed. The comparison of various physico-chemical treatment and the
advantages of biofiltration over other conventional processes for treatment of heavy
metals contaminated wastewater have also been discussed. The applications of genetic
engineering in the modification of the microorganisms for increasing the efficiency
of the biofiltration process for heavy metals removal have been critically analyzed.
The results show that the efficiency of the process can be increased three to six
folds with the application of recombinant microbial treatment.