Research Progress on the Application and Interaction Mechanism between Specific Microorganisms and Heavy Metals in Soil

Economic development requires exploration and exploitation of mineral resources. It is difficult to find surface outcrop deposits, which will cause soil pollution by heavy metals that is a severe hazard to the environment and human health. Microorganisms in nature interact with heavy metals in air. Microorganisms with this specificity can be applied to metal prospect exploration and environmental bioremediation of heavy metal pollution. Interaction mechanisms between specific microorganisms and heavy metals and its application to exploration and environmental bioremediation of heavy metal pollution have been reviewed. The focus of this paper is on the adsorption, accumulation and transformation process between specific microorganisms and heavy metal ions, as well as the mechanism of microbial organisms changing heavy metal distribution, occurrence and toxicity. The interaction mechanism between Bacillus cereus and gold and its application potential to find concealed gold deposits were reviewed. Removal of heavy metals in the soil by the specific microorganism through the adsorption of metabolites and assisting plants to repair heavy metal pollution were introduced and elaborated upon.