Bioremediation Technology for Sustainable Mining Waste Management

Extensive mining operations contributes to environmental pollution in large amounts thereby releasing a variety of heavy metals from mining activities to soil, water and air. The exposure to mining pollutants poses serious environmental problems and causes deformities in animals and humans. Mining is imperative globally and contributes greatly to the economic progression but simultaneously it has negative impacts on environment, human health and biodiversity which cannot be ignored. Mining activities have affected fresh water through heavy use of water in processing ore, and through water pollution from discharged mine effluent and seepage from tailings and waste rock impoundments. These activities have created inconsistencies in the ecosystems with devastating outcomes. The universal environmental complications require a greener solution underlying unity between the global environmental problems irrespective of their intricacy and executing solutions. Recovery and recycling of metals from tailings and secondary resources holds significant opportunity in the coming future as their applications are widespread in high-tech industries which are critical to modern society and sustainable development. Mining waste management requires technology based solution, with cost effective strategies for meeting the demands of developing countries.  Bioremediation technology involves the use of native and indigenous microorganisms to degrade diverse environmental contaminants in a controlled environment. This method is considered as a natural, bio inspired, cost-effective and sustainable treatment approach for the remediation of mining polluted sites. Metal-solubilizing microorganisms are used in the bioleaching technique to recover and recycle precious metals from mining waste as a resource for the circular economy. The book will focus on numerous features of environmental sustainability, and more responsibly, will label the technologies and methods essential to overcome growing mining and mineral processing wastes. It will also describe the biotechnological methods, cutting-edge research, applications, and procedures required to safeguard sustainable mining waste management. 

Chapter 1: Water Contamination and Impacts on the Global Ecosystem: Effects on Rivers.- Chapter 2: Water Contamination and Its Impacts on the Global Ecosystem: Special Emphasis on Mining.- Chapter 3: Source of Mining Waste in the Environment, Their Fate and Toxicity.- Chapter 4: Impact of Mining Activities on the Terrestrial and Aquatic Environment.- Chapter 5: Health Hazards Related To Uranium Mining and Bioremediation As A Sustainable Approach.- Chapter 6: Advancements and Prospects in Microbial Remediation of Mining Wastewater.- Chapter 7: Advanced Physical and Biological Treatment Methods of Mining Pollutants.- Chapter 8: Novel and Eco-Friendly Techniques for the Remediation of Mining Pollutants.- Chapter 9: Bioremediation of Mining Waste Contaminated Water.- Chapter 10: Bioremediation of Mining Pollutants: Eco-Innovative Approaches Involved In Sustainable Development.- Chapter 11: Bioremediation As a Greener Alternative For Sustainable Recycling of Mining Waste.- Chapter 12: Microbial Leaching: An Environment-Friendly Approach To Metal Recovery.- Chapter 13: Turning Mining Waste to Wealth: Challenges and Sustainable Strategies.- Chapter 14: Innovative Strategies & Its Valorisation For Sustainable Municipal Waste Management.- Chapter 15: Overburden Management in Iron Ore Mines: A Key Challenge for Achieving Sustainability at Iron Belt of Odisha, India.- Chapter 16: Recent Advances in Microbial Upcycling of Mining Waste into Value-Added Products.- Chapter 17: Sustainable Technology in the Development of Novel Processes and Products from Mining Wastes.- Chapter 18: Current biotechnologies for bio-upcycling of mining waste to Critical Minerals.- Chapter 19: Adverse Effect of Emerging Mining Pollutants on the Environment and Novel Methods For Its Environment Friendly Remediation.

Dr. Alok Prasad Das currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Life Sciences at Rama Devi Women’s University, Odisha, India. Prior to this, Dr. Das was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Polymer Engineering at Tripura Central University, Agartala.

Dr. Das has contributed significantly to research in Biological Wastewater Treatment, Bioremediation, Microplastic and Microfiber Pollution, and Geomicrobiology of extreme environments. His work has led to over 130 publications, including journal articles, books, and book chapters, and he has received several awards for his contributions to science and innovation. He has been supported by research grants from the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

As an editorial member of reputed journals, Dr. Das is also recognized for his leadership in guiding postgraduate and Ph.D. scholars. His work is internationally recognized, with an impressive Google Scholar citation count of 6500 and an h-index of 48. He has been listed in the Stanford University’s 2023 and 2024 list of the world’s top 2% most influential scientists.