ABSTRACT
Bioremediation entails the use of naturally occurring microorganisms to remove or neutralize pollutants from a contaminated site, such as soil or water. In contrast, biomineralization refers to a process by which living organisms internally or externally form inorganic minerals. In the recent past, microbe-mediated bioremediation has emerged as a potential alternative to conventional treatment methods. The role of fungi in biomineralization stems from the ability of their hyphae to traverse diverse substrates and their organic matter degradation, through either saprotrophy or parasitic and pathogenic interactions. In the majority of cases, a consortium of microorganisms is involved in the biodegradation of the contaminants, rather than a single microbial species. While the application of mesophilic microorganisms in bioremediation has received considerable attention in recent years, the potential of thermophilic organisms has largely been unexplored. Thermophilic microorganisms, including thermophilic fungi with higher metal resistance and metabolic attributes at elevated temperatures, may exhibit increased metal remediation capacities, including solubilization and mineralization. This chapter begins with an introduction to bioremediation and then covers heavy metals as environmental pollutants, metals as a precious component of life, and various strategies to control heavy metal contamination. Lastly, the role of thermophilic fungi in bioremediation and biomineralization is discussed.
