CHANGE OF ENVIORMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF HEAVY

METALS

• Effects on wildlife can include reduced fertility, damaged kidneys, slower growth
and development, abnormal behavior and even death
• carcinogenic nature of heavy metals, which pose a significant threat to both the
aquatic ecosystem and human health.
• Acute and choric illnesses are caused by heavy metal concentrations in drinking
water.
• People that consume high levels of heavy metals risk acute and chronic toxicity,
liver, kidney, and intestinal damage, anemia, and cancer
BIOFILTRATION

• Bioremediation refers to a branch of biotechnology , where organic wastes are

biologically degraded with help of microbes like bacteria, fungi, algae etc.
• Heavy metal degradation can be achieved by a bioremediation technique called as
biofiltration.
• Any type of filter with attached biomass on the filter media is a biofilter
• The filtration here occurs due to biological degradation with the help of microbes.
• Biofiltration is designed to remove not only fine particles but also dissolved
organic compunds through microbial degradation.
• Biofiltration can reduce the need for chemical in water treatment and can lead to
a green sustainable engineering technology
Literature review

• The toxic nature of heavy metals has led researchers, scientists, and industries to
exhibit concern. Today we look forward for advance development of wastewater
treatment methodologies at low cost and in an eco-friendly way. Recently, bio-based
technologies were considered for environmental remedies.
• Water pollution has become a major threat to human health and the environment. In
2015, the United Nations had given out ‘The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’,
also known as Global Goals.
• There are 17 goals that have to be implemented to protect our planet earth, remove
poverty, and ensure global prosperity and peace by the year 2030 which include a
goal represents sustainable water management to provide potable water and good
sanitation for people.
• Biofiltration-based works have shown a significant result for the removal of organic
compounds and heavy metals in the treatment of wastewater.
 Methodology
• There are three main biological processes that can occur in a biofilter, (i)
attachment of microorganism, (ii) growth of microorganism and (iii) decay and
detachment of microorganisms
• With the progression of filtration process, microorganisms are gradually
developed on the surface of the filter media and form a biological film or slime
layer known as biofilm.
• Aim is to create a microbial bed which degrades the toxic iron in the water, and
reduces its concentration.
PROCESS

• The water is introduce into the

biofilter.
• The biofilter consists the following
biological layers that is
1. Microbial layer
2. Fungal layer
3. Microbial layer
• The heavy metals in water is degraded
with the help of bacteria and fungi .
• Hence the water is filtered and has
reduced iron concentration
PROCESS

• BBCBBCB
Attachment of
microorganisms

Growth of
microorganisms
BIOFILMS
Degradation of
metals by
microbes
ADVANTAGES

• Low cost
• Effective to remove low concentration heavy metals
• Long usable life
• Low chemical usage
• Green sustainable engineering
• No external pollution
FUTURE PROSPECTS

• Apart from Iron many heavy metals which are harmful and toxic for environment
and humans can also be degraded with biofiltration
• The biofilter once utilized can later be used as nature fertilizer for degradation of
iron in soil hence helpful for plants.
• Biofiltres are used for maintaining water quality before water is discharged from
the the facility
REFRENCES
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9161908/ -- NCBI
• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36348-1
• https://emis.vito.be/en/bat/tools-overview/sheets/biofilter
• https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Main-advantages-and-drawback
s-of-biofiltration-technologies-used-for-H-2-S-abatement_tbl1_33504
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