title: Selenium biomineralization for biotechnological applications.
abstract: Selenium (Se) is not only a strategic element in high-tech electronics and an essential trace element in living organisms, but also a potential toxin with low threshold concentrations. Environmental biotechnological applications using bacterial biomineralization have the potential not only to remove selenium from contaminated waters, but also to sequester it in a reusable form. Selenium biomineralization has been observed in phylogenetically diverse microorganisms isolated from pristine and contaminated environments, yet it is one of the most poorly understood biogeochemical processes. Microbial respiration of selenium is unique because the microbial cells are presented with both soluble (SeO(4)(2-) and SeO(3)(2-)) and insoluble (Se(0)) forms of selenium as terminal electron acceptor. Here, we highlight selenium biomineralization and the potential biotechnological uses for it in bioremediation and wastewater treatment.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering and Water Technology Department, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, Delft DA 2601, The Netherlands; Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section of Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, 603102, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: v.yarlagadda@unesco-ihe.org.
authors.forename: Yarlagadda V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Nancharaiah
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering and Water Technology Department, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, Delft DA 2601, The Netherlands; Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Tampere University of Technology, PO Box 541, Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: p.lens@unesco-ihe.org.
authors.forename: Piet N L
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Lens
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001709:Biotechnology; D006801:Humans; D012643:Selenium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: biomineralization; selenium bioreduction; selenium deficiency; selenium nanomaterials; selenium supplementation; wastewater treatment