Note: Intro -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- About the Editors -- Part I: Bioremediation and Biodegradation -- 1: Bioremediation and Functional Metagenomics: Advances, Challenges, and Opportunities -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Bioremediation -- 1.3 History of Bioremediation -- 1.4 Bioremediation Successes -- 1.5 Mechanism of Bioremediation -- 1.6 Microorganisms Used in Bioremediation -- 1.6.1 Fungi -- 1.6.1.1 Phanerochaete Chrysosporium -- 1.7 Factors Affecting Bioremediation -- 1.7.1 Biotic Factors -- 1.7.1.1 The Availability of Bacteria That Degrade Hydrocarbons -- 1.7.1.2 Competition and Cooperation Among Bacteria -- 1.7.1.3 Exogenous and Indigenous Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria -- 1.7.1.4 Number of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria -- 1.7.1.5 Redox Potential of the Bacteria -- 1.7.1.6 Effect of Biosurfactants -- 1.7.2 Abiotic Factors -- 1.7.2.1 Contaminant Physical and Chemical Properties -- 1.7.2.2 Hydrocarbon Concentration -- 1.7.2.3 Nutrient Availability -- 1.7.2.4 Oxygen Availability -- 1.7.2.5 Moisture Availability -- 1.7.2.6 Bioavailability -- 1.8 Bioremediation Types -- 1.8.1 Ex Situ Bioremediation -- 1.8.1.1 Treatment in the Solid Phase -- 1.8.1.2 Slurry-Phase Bioremediation -- 1.8.2 In Situ Bioremediation -- 1.9 Bioremediation Approaches for Environmental Clean-Up -- 1.9.1 Ex Situ Bioremediation Approaches -- 1.9.1.1 Biopile -- 1.9.1.2 Biofilter -- 1.9.1.3 Land Farming -- 1.9.1.3.1 Composting -- 1.9.1.4 Bioreactor -- 1.9.2 In Situ Bioremediation Approaches -- 1.9.2.1 Bioventing -- 1.9.2.2 Biosparging -- 1.9.2.3 Bioslurping -- 1.10 Metagenomics -- 1.11 Metagenomics in Bioremediation Process -- 1.12 Metagenomics Research in a Contaminated Environment -- 1.12.1 Sampling from Contaminated Site -- 1.12.2 Extracting the DNA from Contaminated Samples -- 1.12.3 Metagenome Analysis -- 1.12.3.1 Targeted Metagenomics Using a Library. , 1.12.3.1.1 Creating a Metagenomics Library -- 1.12.3.1.2 Screening of Metagenomic Clones -- 1.12.3.1.2.1 Screening Based on a Sequence -- 1.12.3.1.2.2 Function-Driven Sequence -- 1.12.4 Direct Sequencing of Metagenomics -- 1.12.5 Next-Generation Sequencing -- 1.12.6 Bioinformatics Analysis -- 1.12.7 Assembly -- 1.12.8 Binning -- 1.12.9 Annotation -- 1.13 Metagenomics in Bioremediation: Current Challenges and Future -- 1.14 Conclusion -- References -- 2: Bioremediation: Gaining Insights Through Metabolomics -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Impact of Metabolomics on Bioremediation -- 2.3 Application of Computer in Metabolomic Study -- 2.4 Application of Metabolomics in Space Bioremediation -- 2.5 Future Advancement -- 2.6 Conclusion -- References -- 3: Metagenomics, Microbial Diversity, and Environmental Cleanup -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Conventional Methods of Gene Sequencing -- 3.2.1 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) -- 3.2.2 Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) -- 3.2.3 Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis -- 3.2.4 Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis -- 3.2.5 DNA Microarrays -- 3.2.6 Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Analysis -- 3.3 Next-Generation Sequencing Techniques -- 3.3.1 Pyrosequencing Technology -- 3.3.2 Roche 454 (GS FLX Plus) -- 3.3.3 Reverse Terminator Technology -- 3.3.3.1 Illumina Solexa -- 3.3.3.2 Ion Torrent -- 3.3.3.3 Sequencing by Ligation Technology -- 3.3.3.4 ABI SOLiD -- 3.4 Metagenomics Sequencing and Its Framework -- 3.5 Tools for Metagenomic Data Analysis -- 3.6 Bioinformatics Tools for Functional Analysis of Metagenome -- 3.7 Application of Metagenomics -- 3.7.1 Food Industries -- 3.7.2 Novel Bioactive Discovery -- 3.7.3 Novel Antimicrobials Discovery -- 3.7.4 Xenobiotic Degradation -- 3.8 Importance of Metagenomics in Bioremediation of Pollutants -- 3.9 Conclusion and Future Perspectives -- References. , 4: Plant-Microbe Associations in Remediation of Contaminants for Environmental Sustainability -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Plant-Microbe Interaction -- 4.2.1 Endophytic Microbiome -- 4.2.2 Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria -- 4.2.3 Plant-Released Signals -- 4.2.4 Microbial Signals -- 4.2.5 Quorum Sensing -- 4.3 Remediation of Contaminants by Plant-Microbe Combination -- 4.3.1 Removal of Pollutants from Aquatic Environments -- 4.3.2 Removal of Pollutants from Terrestrial Environment -- 4.3.3 Removal of Pollutants from Atmosphere -- 4.4 Examples of Bacterial-Assisted Phytoremediation -- 4.5 Microbial-Assisted Phytoextraction -- 4.6 Microbial-Assisted Phytostabilisation -- 4.7 Microbial-Assisted Phytovolatilisation -- 4.8 Rhizoremediation -- 4.9 Phytostimulation -- 4.10 Microbial-Assisted Phytodegradation -- 4.11 Challenges Faced During Remediation by Plant-Microbe Associations -- 4.12 Conclusion -- References -- 5: Recent Trends in Bioremediation of Heavy Metals: Challenges and Perspectives -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Heavy Metal Pollution -- 5.3 Bioremediation of Heavy Metals: Principles, Mechanisms and Factors -- 5.3.1 Principles of Bioremediation -- 5.3.2 Mechanisms of Bioremediation -- 5.3.3 Factors Affecting Bioremediation -- 5.4 Techniques for Detection and Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Environment -- 5.5 Techniques of Bioremediation -- 5.5.1 In Situ Techniques -- 5.5.2 Ex Situ Techniques -- 5.6 Plant-Mediated Heavy Metal Removal -- 5.7 Role of Microbes in Heavy Metal Removal -- 5.8 Recent Advancement in Heavy Metal Removal Techniques -- 5.9 Advantages and Limitations -- 5.10 Application and Future Prospects of Bioremediation -- 5.11 Conclusions -- References -- 6: Enzyme Technology for Remediation of Contaminants in the Environment -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Enzyme as Contaminant Sterilizing Agent -- 6.3 Pollutants. , 6.3.1 Organic Pollutants -- 6.3.1.1 Nitro Compounds -- 6.3.1.2 Dyes -- 6.3.1.3 Organophosphorus Hydrolase -- 6.3.1.4 Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenase -- 6.3.1.5 Peroxidase from Horseradish -- 6.3.2 Inorganic Pollutants -- 6.3.2.1 Arsenic -- 6.3.2.2 Chromium -- 6.3.2.3 Mercury -- 6.3.2.4 Lead -- 6.4 Microbial Enzymes in Bioremediation -- 6.4.1 Microbial Oxidoreductase -- 6.4.2 Microbial Laccases -- 6.4.3 Microbial Oxygenases -- 6.4.3.1 Monooxygenases -- 6.4.3.2 Microbial Dioxygenases -- 6.5 Strategies for Overcoming Difficulties Associated with the Enzyme Technology -- 6.6 Plants and their Associated Enzymes: A Agents for Decontamination -- 6.7 Conclusion -- References -- Part II: Environmental Pollution and Wastewater Treatment -- 7: Environmental Toxicity, Health Hazards, and Bioremediation Strategies for Removal of Microplastics from Wastewater -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Sources of Microplastics in Wastewater -- 7.3 Properties of Microplastics -- 7.4 Ecotoxicity and Health Hazards of Microplastics -- 7.5 Factors Affecting Toxicity of Microplastics -- 7.6 Techniques for Characterization of Microplastics in Wastewater -- 7.7 Bioremediation Strategies for Microplastics -- 7.7.1 Bacterial Degradation of Microplastics -- 7.7.2 Fungal Degradation of Microplastics -- 7.7.3 Microalgal Degradation of Microplastics -- 7.7.4 Microbial Consortia in Microplastics Degradation -- 7.7.5 Microbial Biofilm in Microplastics Degradation -- 7.7.6 Bioreactor Systems for Microplastic Removal from Wastewater -- 7.8 Challenges and Future Perspectives -- 7.9 Conclusion and Recommendations -- References -- 8: Microbial Community Composition and Functions in Activated Sludge Treatment System -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Characteristics of Activated Sludge -- 8.3 Microbial Diversity in Activated Sludge. , 8.4 Enzyme Activity and Associated Physiological Function of Microbiome in Activated Sludge -- 8.5 Antibiotic Resistance Genes of Activated Sludge -- 8.6 Future Challenges and Opportunities -- 8.7 Conclusion -- References -- 9: Decontamination and Management of Industrial Wastewater Using Microorganisms Under Aerobic Condition -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Physical and Chemical Attributes of Wastewater -- 9.3 Biological Parameters of Wastewater -- 9.4 Aerobic Treatment of Wastewater -- 9.5 Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Technologies -- 9.6 Treatment of Sludge After Treatment of Wastewater -- 9.7 Management and Regulation for Quality Control and Quality Assurance of WTPs -- 9.8 Conclusions -- References -- 10: Omics in Industrial Wastewater Treatment -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 The Composition of Industrial Wastewater -- 10.2.1 Food and Dairy Industry -- 10.2.2 Paper and Pulp Industry -- 10.2.3 Textile Industry -- 10.2.4 Mining and Quarry Industry -- 10.2.5 Chemical Industry -- 10.2.6 Leather and Tannery Industry -- 10.3 Industrial Wastewater Treatment Methods -- 10.3.1 Physical Wastewater Treatment Processes -- 10.3.2 Chemical Wastewater Treatment Processes -- 10.3.3 Biological Treatment of Wastewater -- 10.3.3.1 Aerobic Treatment -- 10.3.3.2 Anaerobic Treatment -- 10.4 Application of Omics in Biological Treatment -- 10.4.1 Omics Approaches in Wastewater Treatment -- 10.4.2 Omics in Remediation of Organic Pollutants -- 10.4.3 Omics for the Remediation of Metal Species -- 10.4.4 Genomic Information for Industrial Wastewater Treatment -- 10.5 Challenges, Limitations, and Futuristic Approaches -- References -- 11: Microalgae in Wastewater Treatment and Biofuel Production: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Future Prospects -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Benefits of Using Microalgae for Environmental Applications. , 11.3 Techniques for Microalgae Culture.

Note: Front Cover -- EARTHWORM TECHNOLOGY IN ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT -- EARTHWORM TECHNOLOGY IN ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT -- Copyright -- Contents -- Contributors -- About the editors -- 1 - Earthworm-associated bacterial community and its role in organic waste decomposition -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Earthworms -- 3. Pollutant degradation mechanisms in vermicomposting -- 4. Bacterial diversity in the alimentary canal -- 5. Vermicast -- 5.1 Physical properties -- 5.2 Microbial properties -- 6. Vermiwash -- 7. Molecular techniques to detect earthworm gut microbes -- 8. Conclusion -- Acknowledgment -- References -- 2 - How do earthworms affect the microbial community during vermicomposting for organic waste recycling? -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Earthworm-microorganism interactions: Selectivity and diet -- 2.1 Bacteria -- 2.2 Fungi -- 2.3 Protozoa -- 3. Microbial abundance and diversity changes during vermicomposting -- 4. Microbial structural changes during vermicomposting -- 5. Microbial functional changes during vermicomposting -- 6. Substate effects on bacterial community during vermicomposting -- 7. Physicochemical properties affecting microbial changes during vermicomposting -- 8. Conclusion -- References -- 3 - Exploring the transfer and transformation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in vermifiltration for domestic w ... -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Materials and methods -- 2.1 Experimental setup and operation -- 2.2 Chemical analysis and sludge yield coefficient calculation -- 2.3 Sample pretreatment and extraction -- 2.4 Sequential solvent extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- 2.5 GC/MS analysis -- 2.6 FT-IR spectrum analysis -- 2.7 Three-dimensional fluorescence analyses for water-extractable organic matter -- 2.8 Data analysis -- 3. Results and discussion -- 3.1 Determination of 16 EPAs originating in sewage. , 3.2 Total removal performance of 16 PAHs by vermifiltration -- 3.3 Transferring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during vermifiltration treatment -- 3.4 Insights into polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon removal based on molecular weight -- 3.5 Stabilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in waste sludge -- 4. Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 4 - Vermiremediation of organic wastes: vermicompost as a powerful plant growth promoter -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Vermicompost and its production -- 2.1 Factors influencing vermicomposting -- 2.1.1 pH -- 2.1.2 Moisture -- 2.1.3 C:N ratio -- 2.1.4 Temperature -- 2.2 Microbial community in vermicomposting -- 3. Vermicompost as a plant growth promoter -- 3.1 Stimulation of plant growth using vermicompost infused with beneficial microbes -- 3.2 Stimulation of plant growth by humic substances -- 4. Vermicompost as a plant disease suppression and pest control -- 5. Conclusions and future perspectives -- References -- Further reading -- 5 - Vermiremediation of plant agro waste to recover residual nutrients and improve crop productivity -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Vermiremediation technology -- 2.1 Basic process -- 2.1.1 Vermiaccumulation and vermiextraction -- 2.1.2 Vermitransformation -- 2.1.3 Drilodegradation -- 2.2 Vermiremediation for a cleaner environment and sustainable agriculture (nutrient amendment and degradation of toxins throug ... -- 3. Activity of suitable earthworm species and their associated microbes in composting and remediation -- 3.1 Earthworm species (Perionyx ceylanensis, Metaphire posthuma, Perionyx excavatus, Polypheretima elongata, Eudrilus eugeniae, ... -- 3.2 Structural and functional profiling of microbial diversity in the compost -- 4. Vermiremediation of different plant agro waste -- 4.1 Green manure amended pressmud -- 4.2 Patchouli bagasse mixed with cow dung. , 4.3 Jute mill waste -- 4.4 Lantana camara biomass -- 4.5 Vegetable waste and tree leaves -- 4.6 Pineapple waste -- 4.7 Waste biomass of medicinal herbs mixed with cow dung -- 4.8 Coir pith -- 4.9 Spent mushroom substrate combined with agro-residues -- 4.10 Leafy waste of cauliflower and cabbage -- 4.11 Distillation waste of Citronella plant -- 4.12 Lignocellulosic green waste of Saccharum spontaenum -- 4.13 Cassava peel waste -- 4.14 Banana crop waste -- 4.15 Sugarcane trash -- 4.16 Wetland plant waste -- 4.17 Crop residues -- 4.18 Coffee pulp -- 4.19 Oil palm empty fruit bunch -- 4.20 Water hyacinth and Salvinia sp -- 5. Different properties of plant agro waste compost -- 5.1 Biocidal properties of plant compost -- 5.1.1 Bacterial pathogen inhibition by Lantana compost -- 5.1.2 Tea-based compost inhibits the growth of Rhizoctonia solani in potato plants -- 5.2 Vermicompost's impact on various crop yields -- 6. Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Further reading -- 6 - Biochemical alterations of vermicompost produced from Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) and cattle dung -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Materials and methods -- 2.1 Work site -- 2.2 Setting up units -- 2.3 Data collection and analyses -- 3. Results and discussion -- 3.1 Electrical conductivity -- 3.2 pH -- 3.3 Organic carbon -- 3.4 Nitrogen -- 3.5 Phosphate -- 3.6 Potassium -- 3.7 Calcium -- 3.8 Magnesium -- 3.9 Economic analysis -- 4. Conclusion -- References -- 7 - Use of vermicompost and vermiwash for the growth and production of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.): A ... -- 1. Introduction -- 1.1 Vermicompost -- 1.2 Vermiwash -- 1.3 Soil properties and impact of vermicompost and vermiwash -- 1.4 Impact of vermicompost and vermiwash on plant growth parameters and productivity -- 1.5 Cultivation of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) -- 2. Materials and methods. , 2.1 Vermiwash production -- 2.1.1 Earthworm collection -- 2.1.2 Establishment of vermiwash units -- 2.1.3 Experimental design -- 2.1.4 Observation and measurements -- 2.1.5 Physicochemical analysis -- 2.2 Crop cultivation (tomatoes) -- 2.2.1 Experimental design -- 2.2.2 Sowing to transplanting -- 2.2.3 Fertilization -- 2.2.4 Data collection -- 3. Results and discussion -- 3.1 Vermicompost: physicochemical properties -- 3.2 Vermiwash: physicochemical properties -- 3.3 Cultivation of tomato plants -- 3.3.1 Climatic conditions -- 3.4 Soil: physicochemical properties -- 3.5 Greenhouse experiment -- 3.5.1 Plant height -- 3.5.2 Stem thickness -- 3.5.3 Biomass and root length -- 3.5.4 Production -- 3.6 Field trials -- 3.6.1 Plant height -- 3.6.2 Stem thickness -- 3.7 Biomass and root length -- 3.7.1 Production -- 4. Overall discussion -- 5. Conclusion -- References -- 8 - Earthworm mediated amelioration of heavy metals from solid organic waste: an ecotechnological approach toward v ... -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Sources of heavy metals in organic waste -- 2.1 Agricultural sources -- 2.1.1 Fertilizer -- 2.1.2 Pesticides -- 2.2 Biosolids -- 2.3 Industrial sources -- 3. Different methods applied for heavy metal removal from solid organic waste: a review of phytoremediation -- 3.1 Phytoextraction -- 3.2 Phytostabilization/phytoimmobilization -- 3.3 Phytovolatilization -- 3.4 Phytodegradation -- 3.5 Rhizodegradation -- 4. Role of vermitechnology in reduction of heavy metal load: a case study using paper mill wastes -- 5. Role of microbes in remediation of heavy metals -- 6. Mechanisms involved in combating heavy metal stress in earthworms -- 7. Conclusion -- References -- Further reading -- 9 - Vermicomposting as a tool for removal of heavy metal contaminants from soil and water environment -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Vermicomposting process and raw materials used. , 2.1 Composting -- 2.2 Harvesting of the product -- 3. Importance of vermicomposting -- 4. Vermicomposting for removal of metal ions from- -- 4.1 Detoxification of industrial wastes/sludges using earthworms -- 4.2 Removal of metals by vermicomposting from municipal solid waste -- 4.3 Vermicomposting to remove metal ions from polluted soil -- 4.4 Vermicomposting for wastewater sludge treatment -- 5. Vermicomposting for breaking down of heavy metal in organic pollutants -- 5.1 Immobilization -- 5.2 Reduction -- 5.3 Volatilization -- 5.4 Modification of the rhizosphere -- 6. Safe disposal of metal-enriched compost -- 6.1 Vermiaccumulation -- 6.2 Vermitransformation -- 6.3 Vermidegradation -- 7. Strategies for improving vermiremediation -- 8. Precaution to be taken during vermiremediation -- 9. Conclusions -- References -- 10 - Earthworms and microplastics: Transport from sewage sludge to soil, antibiotic-resistant genes, and soil remed ... -- 1. Introduction -- 1.1 Microplastics in sewage sludge and soil -- 1.2 Presence of antibiotic resistance genes in soil -- 1.3 Earthworms as targets of exposure to contamination and as tools for soil remediation -- 2. Microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes -- 2.1 Co-transport from sewage sludge to and within the soil -- 2.2 Effects on soil systems -- 2.2.1 Effects on earthworms and other soil invertebrates -- 2.2.2 Effects on plants -- 2.2.3 Effects on the soil microbiome -- 3. Impact of earthworms on microplastics and antibiotic resistance -- 3.1 Earthworm-mediated microplastic degradation -- 3.2 Impact of vermicomposting on antibiotic resistance genes -- 4. Discussion -- 5. Conclusions and perspectives -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 11 - Instrumental characterization of matured vermicompost produced from organic waste -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Characteristic of mature vermicompost: a brief overview. , 3. Traditional methods for understanding vermicompost maturity.