ABSTRACT
With rampant industrialization comes the global challenge of environmental pollution through the release of various toxic wastes. Though mechanical and chemical treatments are well established processes, microbial enzymatic degradation is proven to be a more efficient and economic treatment; hence this method has been practiced in several industries. This chapter selectively focuses on some of the major classes of microbial enzymes, such as oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, and lyases, which are mostly involved in the bioremediation process. The oxidoreductases comprising oxygenases, like monooxygenases, dioxygenases, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, laccases, peroxidases, etc., use oxygen molecules for the breakdown of pollutants. Similarly, reductase is another subclass of oxidoreductase and mainly acts on complex structures like dyes and metal complexes. Other enzymes classes like transferases, hydrolases, and lyases effectively contribute to the bioremediation of pollutants like polyphenols, pesticides, heavy metals, nitriles, and cyanide. This chapter attempts to provide detailed information on the microbial enzymes that have the potential to participate in the biodegradation of a wide range of pollutants.
