ABSTRACT
When toxic vanadium enters soil, it shows impacts on the indigenous microbial community. Meanwhile, microbes alter the speciation and toxicity of vanadium through metabolisms; thereby, bioremediation can be proposed. In this chapter, microbial community responses to vanadium in different environmental media (i.e., atmosphere, water, soil and sediment) are summarized. The influences of vanadium on the microbial community are revealed. Vanadium (V) [V(V)] reducing microbes are identified such as Bacillus, Geobacter and Pseudomonas. Spatiotemporal dynamics of the microbial community also are revealed, which is in favor of guiding site management. Furthermore, the concept of bioremediation for vanadium polluted soil is introduced. Mechanisms of V(V) reduction to vanadium (IV) [V(IV)] are also comprehensively described, with collections of functional microbes. This bioprocess is obviously affected by co-existing substances (e.g., gases, minerals, nutrients, metals and organics). Finally, strengthening strategies for microbial remediation, including biostimulation, bioaugmentation and electrical stimulation, are introduced.
