Some aspects of heavy metals contamination remediation and role of biosurfactants

Abstract

Contamination by heavy metals is the result of different industrial activities. The presence of heavy metals in soil and water causes serious problems, as these materials are not biodegradable and do contaminate both biological systems and the subsoil. Biological surface-active compounds otherwise known as biosurfactants in general and rhamnolipids biosurfactants in particular have been successfully employed in the remediation of environments contaminated with heavy metal ions. The aim of the present review is to highlight potential applications of these tensioactive compounds for use in environmental heavy metals removal and bioremediation and processes involved.

Keywords:

• biosurfactants
• heavy metals
• remediation

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the laboratories of the Centre for Sciences and Technology of the Catholic University of Pernambuco, Brazil.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

This study received funding from the following Brazilian fostering agencies: The State of Pernambuco Science and Technology Assistance Foundation (FACEPE), National Electrical Energy Agency (ANEEL), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level Education Personnel (CAPES) and the Brazilian Innovation Agency (FINEP).