ABSTRACT
Microorganisms are involved in global cycling of all elements which makes them essential for maintaining equilibrium on our planet. In addition, some microorganisms dispose of unique abilities to survive in harsh or extreme environments and to assimilate or degrade unusual or toxic substrates, including environmental contaminants. From this point of view, bacteria are of outstanding importance due to their diversity, versatility, and abilities to adapt very fast to changing conditions and selective pressure (Mackova et al. 2006). All these traits make them ideal candidates to funnel pollutants into natural biogeochemical cycles. Therefore, the use of microorganisms for the clean-up of toxic substances from the environment (microbial bioremediation) has been driving more and more attention. Bioremediation indeed is a cheaper and much more ecologically sound way of removing toxic compounds compared to conventional technologies. These are typically very expensive and destructive, including solidi—cation and stabilization, soil ¬ushing, soil washing, electrokinetics, chemical reduction/oxidation, low-temperature thermal desorption, incineration, vitri—cation, pneumatic fracturing, excavation/retrieval, land—ll, and disposal (Demnerova et al. 2005).
