New Uses of Haloarchaeal Species in Bioremediation Processes

Abstract

The extreme conditions under which haloarchaea survive make them good bioremediation agents in water treatment processes and in saline and hypersaline environments contaminated with toxic compounds such as nitrate, nitrite and ammonia, chlorine compounds such as perchlorate and chlorate, heavy metals, and aromatic compounds. New advances in the understanding of haloarchaea metabolism, biochemistry, and molecular biology suggest that general biochemical pathways related to nitrogen (Nitrogen cycle), metals (iron, mercury), hydrocarbons, or phenols can be used for bioremediation proposals. The main goal of the chapter is to present a review about the main characteristics of the archaeal species and their possible uses for bioremediation processes paying special attention to the Halobacteriaceae family. Several examples about the role of these microorganisms in salty brines or soils with high concentrations of nitrogenous compounds, heavy metals, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons, or oxyanions are also discussed.