Emerging techniques of soil remediation: Nanotechnology and bioremediation approaches: A review

Abstract

Soil pollution is one of the critical issues that affects environmental health, agricultural productivity, and overall balance of an ecosystem. The contamination of soil with heavy metals, organic pollutants, and hazardous substances is a result of industrial discharge, agricultural practices, and urbanization. Traditional remediation techniques, such as excavation and chemical treatments, are effective but expensive and often cause secondary pollution. Emerging technologies include nanotechnology and bioremediation. These are very novel and promising, sustainable remediation alternatives that use adsorption, catalytic reduction, or chemical reduction by nanoparticles, in contrast to traditional techniques. Microbial and plant-based biodegradation or biotransformation can be involved in bioremediation. It describes the present trends, mechanisms, and successful application of both approaches, particularly in terms of individual advantages, but also concerning their potential integrated approach to treating multi-component contaminant soil matrices more effectively.