Bacterial Potential for Bioremediation of Surfactants and Heavy Metals: Current Knowledge and Trends in Wastewater Treatment Processes

Surfactants are chemical compounds present in a large number of products that people use on a daily basis, starting with detergents for washing clothes, dishes, personal hygiene products, etc. Some products also contain certain heavy metals. Their uses cause heavy contamination of wastewater that must be purified before discharge into receivers. Given that some types of surfactants are very persistent and heavy metals are non-biodegradable and toxic even in small concentrations, the purification process requires a complex approach and a combination of different methods. Bioremediation, as an environmentally acceptable and economically clean technology, has great potential. It is based on the use of indigenous microorganisms that have developed different mechanisms for breaking down and removing or detoxifying a large number of pollutants and are excellent candidates for bioremediation of wastewater. Bacteria can degrade surfactants as sole carbon sources and exhibit tolerance to various heavy metals. This paper summarizes the most significant results, highlighting the potential of bacteria for the biodegradation of surfactants and heavy metals, with the aim of drawing attention to their insufficient practical application in wastewater treatment. Bioreactors and microbial fuel cells are described as currently relevant strategies for bioremediation.