Microbial Enzymes for Wastewater Treatment

Freshwater is under threat of depletion because of the rise in consumption from a growing global population; thus, wastewater treatment has become a global imperative. Physical, chemical, and biological treatment methods are available for remediating wastewater of a variety of pollutants. Enzyme utilization, which is one of the biological treatment methods, is effective, ecofriendly, and sustainable. Laccases, peroxidases, and poly(ethylene terephthalate) hydrolases are the most important enzymes in wastewater treatment. Digestive enzymes such as lipases, cellulases, proteases, and amylases, round out the rest of the important enzymes in wastewater treatment. There is a limitation in their application according to the studies conducted under laboratory conditions instead of in the field, so a more permanent solution is still urgently needed. This chapter explains the applications and importance of a variety of enzymes in wastewater treatment.