Sustainable remediation of heavy metal polluted soil: A biotechnical interaction with selected bacteria species

When the inevitable nature of waste generation is considered detrimental to the environment, it becomes imperative to develop waste management options that do not only take care of disposal, but will ensure sustainability and environmental safety. Due to the persistent nature of heavy metals in landfill leachate contaminated soil, resident microbes need bioengineering with the aim of evaluating a biotechnical approach suitable for the bioremoval and/or immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soil. Utilized bacterial strains optimized the reduction of extractable Al (72%), Cu (88%), Cd (41%), Mn (65%) and Pb (71%) ions from leachate-contaminated soil.