Potential of plants and microorganisms for bioremediation technologies for mine rehabilitation

The mining industry is one of the priority sources of environmental pollution by potentially toxic metals. The impact on the environment remains significant even after the end of mining activities. Numerous studies report the environmental impact of abandoned mines. Therefore, cleaning of mine territories from the pollution is of priority importance. Phytoremediation and microbial remediation are some of the methods. The study of plants for their possible use in phytoremediation is of great interest. Such works are of great importance in developing modern phytoremediation technologies, as they allow us to find new hyperaccumulators for possible mine reclamation. Microorganisms possessing resistance to heavy metals, such as fungi and bacteria, as well as unicellular algae, may be used to clean up tailings contaminated with potentially toxic metals. The microbiological method of tailings treatment is based on the ability of microorganisms to transform and decompose chemical compounds. Microbial remediation and phytoremediation are attracting more and more attention due to their relatively low cost and environmental friendliness. A large number of studies related to the investigation of mine plants and microorganisms and their utilization for mine cleanup demonstrate the promise of using bioremediation. Further development of bioremediation technologies will be associated with wider implementation of the research findings in practice and the possible use of biotechnology in bioremediation. The successful practical application of mine bioremediation requires a complex interdisciplinary approach associated with biological, ecological, biotechnological, and geographic-geological areas.