Nano-Bioremediation for Water and Soil Treatment: An Eco-Friendly Approach

This new volume addresses the global concern of environmental pollution mediated by a variety of organic, inorganic, persistent, and nonpersistent pollutants, which have a substantial detrimental impact on the structural and functional aspects of ecosystems. The book presents some important and recent nanotechnological advances that provide significant potential for decontamination of many polluted sites. It first provides the introductory background of nanoremediation and then delves into applications for the restoration of environmental sites that have been contaminated with a diverse range of pollutants, such as heavy metal, pesticides, and dyes in soil and water.

This volume improves our knowledge of nanotechnology-based remediation to make it less hazardous and reusable. It provides valuable information on the decontamination of the soil and water resources.

Vishnu D. Rajput, PhD, is working as a Leading Researcher (Associate Professor) at Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia. His ongoing research is based on toxic effects of bulk- and nano-forms of metals and the bioaccumulation, bio/geo-transformations, uptake, translocation, and toxic effects on plant physiology, morphology, anatomy, ultrastructure of cellular and subcellular organelles, cytomorphometric modifications, and DNA. He is also researching the possible remediation approaches such using biochar/nano-biochar-based sorbents and nanotechnology. With his vast experience and experimental work, he has comprehensively detailed the state of research in environmental science regarding how nanoparticles/heavy metals interact with plants, soil, microbial community, and the larger environment as well as possible remediation technology using nanoparticles/nano-biochar. Dr. Rajput has published over 325 scientific publications, including nearly 200 peer-reviewed full-length articles, 16 books (Springer, Elsevier, CRC Press, Nova-USA), and many chapters (Scopus indexed) and conference articles. His h-index is 19 by Scopus with 1617 citations as of August 2022. He is an internationally recognized reviewer, having reviewed over 200 manuscripts; he has received outstanding reviewing certificates from Elsevier, Springer, and Plants-MDPI. He is an editorial board member of several high-impact journal. He is a co-principal investor on several grants on the state of contaminated soils and plants using synchrotron methods and other related areas.

Arpna Kumari, PhD, is working as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Russia. She has seven years of research experience in the field of plant physiology with special emphasis on abiotic stressors (i.e., drought, salinity, heat, heavy metals, organic contaminants, etc.); stress mitigation strategies; applications of nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture and contaminated soils’ restoration; and cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of emerging pollutants and endocrine disruptors. She has published 36 scientific publications (28 Scopus-indexed; Scopus h-index 8), 15 book chapters, and several conference papers. She has reviewed more than 50 manuscripts for national and internationally reputed journals. In addition, she is a life member of the various academic bodies (e.g., Indian Science Congress Association, Indian Botanical Society, Indian Ecological Society) and a member of the Hong Kong Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering Society. Dr. Kumari earned her BSc and MSc (Botany) degrees from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, India. She earned her doctoral degree in Life Sciences with a specialization in Botany from Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjab, India.

Tatiana Minkina, PhD, is the Head of Soil Science and Land Evaluation Department of Southern Federal University, Russia. She is Head of the International Master’s Degree Educational Program ＂Management and Estimation of Land Resources＂ (2015-2022 years, accreditation by ACQUIN). Her area of scientific interest is soil science, biogeochemistry of trace elements, environmental soil chemistry, soil monitoring and assessment, and modeling and remediation using physicochemical treatment methods. Dr. Minkina was awarded in 2015 with a Diploma of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation for her many years of work for the development and improvement of the educational process and for her significant contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists. Currently, she is handling projects funded by the Russian Scientific Foundation, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, and the Russian Foundation of Basic Research. She is a member of many professional societies. She has published over 750 papers (389 in English).