Scaling-Up Strategies of Heavy Metals Microbial Bioremediation

In order to fulfil the legislative norms for treated wastewaters discharge in environment, it is paramount to apply multiple treatments (primary, secondary and tertiary) for pollutants removal. In a conventional urban wastewater treatment plant, the heavy metals are not easily removed during primary and secondary treatments, becoming mandatory the application of advanced treatments. It has been shown, at the laboratory level, that heavy metals biosorption by microorganisms can be a promising alternative for decontamination of liquid effluents. Thus, this paper focused on the evaluation of the possibility of biosorption process transfer from laboratory level to industrial scale. To achieve the proposed goal, we focused on: (i) the scaling up framework for heavy metals biosorption and bioaccumulation by microorganisms and (ii) identification of methodologies and tools useful in the evaluation of process feasibility from the economic, environmental, social and technical point of views. The importance of kinetics, isotherm, statistical mathematical models application and process environmental assessment by Life Cycle Assessment methodology was highlighted.