Biocatalysts for Change: Microbial Enzymes as a Sustainable Solution to Industrial Pollution

Industrialization and anthropogenic activity represent significant environmental hazards. Emerging pollutants in nature pose a major risk and are linked to some immediate and long-term negative effects on the ecosystem. Traditional methods of excluding pollution are futile and lead to the creation of secondary contaminants that cause diseases, cancer, mental and cardiovascular issues, allergies, and other conditions. Microbes and their enzymes are key players in reducing and removing hazardous contaminants through bioremediation by their catalytic action under ideal settings (temperature/pH/contact time/concentration). Laccases, dehalogenases, proteases, cytochrome P450s, dehydrogenases, and lipases are the primary enzymes used in bioremediation. These enzymes have demonstrated encouraging potential in the breakdown of dangerous pollutants. These enzymes use oxidation, elimination, reduction, and other numerous mechanisms to biodegrade various pollutants. Recombinant enzymes produced from genetically modified microorganisms also enhance the breakdown of pollutants. Recent developments and opportunities for microbial enzymes in the sustainable breakdown of hazardous pollutants such as dyes, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, plastics, heavy metals, pesticides, etc. in the environment due to industrial pollution are the major focus of this review.