Dr. Maulin P. Shah is a distinguished environmental scientist, academician, and globally recognized expert in the fields of environmental biotechnology and sustainablewastewater treatment. He has made significant contributions to advancing eco-friendlytechnologies for pollution control, particularly through innovative biological treatment processes. Dr. Shah holds extensive academic and research experience, with a strong focus onindustrial wastewater treatment, bioremediation, and microalgae-based technologies. His work emphasizes the integration of sustainability principles with practical engineering solutions, helping industries reduce their environmental footprint.Remarkably, Dr. Shah has edited over 300+ books covering a wide spectrum of cutting-edge domains, including industrial wastewater microbiology, bioremediation, biodegradation, algal biotechnology, biofuel, bioenergy, circular economy, metagenomics related to wastewater treatment, and enzyme engineering. This exceptional editorial contribution reflects his deep expertise and unparalleled commitment to advancing global knowledge in environmental science.Over the years, he has also authored and contributed to numerous high-impactresearch papers and scholarly books published by reputed international publishers. Hispublications are widely cited and serve as essential references for researchers, academicians, and industry professionals worldwide.He is actively associated as an Editorial Board Member in more than 30 high-reputedinternational journals affiliated with leading organizations and publishers. His extensive editorial involvementhighlights his leadership and recognition in the global scientific community.Dr. Shah is widely recognized for his collaborative research with leading scientistsacross the globe, promoting interdisciplinary solutions to complex environmental challenges.His work effectively bridges the gap between fundamental research and real-world industrialapplications. In addition to his research excellence, he has been invited as a keynote speaker at numerous national and international conferences, where he shares valuable insights on sustainable development, wastewater management, and environmental innovation. He is also deeply committed to mentoring students and young researchers, fostering academic growth and inspiring future leaders in environmental science and engineering.Beyond academia, Dr. Shah contributes to industry-oriented solutions and policy-relevant research aimed at environmental protection, resource recovery, and sustainabledevelopment. Through his relentless dedication and visionary approach, Dr. Maulin P. Shahhas established himself as a leading authority in environmental sustainability, committed tobuilding a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future. Susana Rodríguez-Couto is a professor in biological water treatment at LUT University, Finland. She got her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Chemistry (Industrial Chemistry) from the University of Santiago de Compostela in 1992 and her Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1999 from the University of Vigo, obtaining the maximal grade (magna cum laude) and, in addition, she was awarded with the Extraordinary Prize for Doctoral Thesis in Chemistry. She worked as an Associate Professor and an Isidro Parga Pondal Senior Researcher at the University of Vigo (2000-2004), as a Ramón y Cajal Senior Researcher at Rovira i Virgili University (2004-2008) and as an Ikerbasque Research Professor (2009-2019). She has also worked as an Invited Researcher at the Institute from Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology (Austria) and at the Department of Biological Engineering, University of Minho (Portugal). In 2008, she received the I3 Professor from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education to the recognition of an outstanding research activity. She has published more than 140 articles in highly reputed international journals (h index 42). She is editor of several journals (3Biotech, Frontiers) and 14 Elsevier books. Vineet Kumar is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (GGV), Bilaspur, India and teaches Environmental Microbiology and Cell and Molecular Biology at the same Institution. Before his joining, he worked as Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator at the Vinayak Vidyapeeth, Meerut, India. Kumar received M.Sc. and M.Phil. degree in Microbiology from Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut, India. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology from Babasaheb Bhimaro Ambedkar (A Central) University, Lucknow, India and later worked at the Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow, India as a Guest Faculty. He was a Senior Researcher in the School of Environmental Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India and worked on biodiesel production from oleaginous microbes and industrial sludge. He awarded a Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship by the University Grants Commission, India to support his doctoral work on “Distillery Wastewater Treatment” in 2012. His research interests include Bioremediation, Phytoremediation, Metagenomics, Wastewater Treatment, Environmental Monitoring, and Bioenergy and Biofuel Production. Currently, his research mainly focuses on the development of integrated and sustainable methods that can help in minimizing or eliminating hazardous substances in the environment. He is the author of numerous research/review articles published in international peer-reviewed journals from Springer Nature, Frontiers, and Elsevier on the different aspects of bioremediation, phytoremediation, and metagenomics of industrial waste polluted sites. In addition, he has published 10 Books on Phytoremediation and Bioremediation from CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group), and Elsevier Inc., USA. His recently published books are ‘Recent Advances in Distillery Waste Management for Environmental Safety’ (From CRC Press; Taylor & Francis Group, USA), and ‘New Trends In Removal Of Heavy Metals From Industrial Wastewater’ (From Elsevier Inc. USA), Microbe-Assisted Phytoremediation of Environmental Pollutants: Recent Advances and Challenges (from CRC Press; Taylor & Francis Group, USA). He is also a reviewer for many other international journals. He is an active member of numerous scientific societies and has served on the editorial board of the journal Current Research in Wastewater Management. As part of his interest in teaching biology, he is founder of the Society for Green Environment, India (website: www.sgeindia.org). He can be reached at drvineet.micro@gmail.com; vineet.way18@gmail.com.

• 1. Introduction2. Types of heavy metals and their effect in wastewater3. Current physico-chemical treatment technologies available for remediation of different types of heavy metals from wastewater4. Biological wastewater treatment technology; advancement and drawbacks for the remediation of heavy metals5. Hurdles in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) performance optimization for the remediation of heavy metals6. Role of bacteria and algae in remediation of heavy metals from WWTPs7. Modified and new adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater8. Removal of heavy metals using bentonite clay and inorganic coagulants9. Sustainable heavy metal remediation10. Efficient techniques for the removal of toxic heavy metals from wastewater 11. Full-Scale implementation of a vertical membrane bioreactor for remediation of heavy metals from wastewater12. Low-cost adsorbents, techniques and heavy metal removal efficiency13. Removal of heavy metals from mine waters by natural zeolites14. Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions: kinetics and equilibrium modelling15. Heavy metals in water: presence, removal and safety16. Mechanisms of heavy metal removal using microorganisms as biosorbents17. Heavy metal removal by bioaccumulation using genetically engineered microorganisms18. Genetic engineering of Escherichia coli for enhanced uptake and bioaccumulation of mercury19. New trends in removing heavy metals from industrial wastewater20. The construction of an engineered bacterium to remove cadmium from wastewater21. Genetic engineering of bacteria and their potential for heavy metal bioremediation22. Biosorption and bioaccumulation - the prospects for practical applications23. Batch and continuous removal of heavy metals from industrial effluents using microbial consortia

Dr. Maulin P. Shah is a distinguished environmental scientist, academician, and globally recognized expert in the fields of environmental biotechnology and sustainablewastewater treatment. He has made significant contributions to advancing eco-friendlytechnologies for pollution control, particularly through innovative biological treatment processes. Dr. Shah holds extensive academic and research experience, with a strong focus onindustrial wastewater treatment, bioremediation, and microalgae-based technologies. His work emphasizes the integration of sustainability principles with practical engineering solutions, helping industries reduce their environmental footprint.Remarkably, Dr. Shah has edited over 300+ books covering a wide spectrum of cutting-edge domains, including industrial wastewater microbiology, bioremediation, biodegradation, algal biotechnology, biofuel, bioenergy, circular economy, metagenomics related to wastewater treatment, and enzyme engineering. This exceptional editorial contribution reflects his deep expertise and unparalleled commitment to advancing global knowledge in environmental science.Over the years, he has also authored and contributed to numerous high-impactresearch papers and scholarly books published by reputed international publishers. Hispublications are widely cited and serve as essential references for researchers, academicians, and industry professionals worldwide.He is actively associated as an Editorial Board Member in more than 30 high-reputedinternational journals affiliated with leading organizations and publishers. His extensive editorial involvementhighlights his leadership and recognition in the global scientific community.Dr. Shah is widely recognized for his collaborative research with leading scientistsacross the globe, promoting interdisciplinary solutions to complex environmental challenges.His work effectively bridges the gap between fundamental research and real-world industrialapplications. In addition to his research excellence, he has been invited as a keynote speaker at numerous national and international conferences, where he shares valuable insights on sustainable development, wastewater management, and environmental innovation. He is also deeply committed to mentoring students and young researchers, fostering academic growth and inspiring future leaders in environmental science and engineering.Beyond academia, Dr. Shah contributes to industry-oriented solutions and policy-relevant research aimed at environmental protection, resource recovery, and sustainabledevelopment. Through his relentless dedication and visionary approach, Dr. Maulin P. Shahhas established himself as a leading authority in environmental sustainability, committed tobuilding a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future. Susana Rodríguez-Couto is a professor in biological water treatment at LUT University, Finland. She got her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Chemistry (Industrial Chemistry) from the University of Santiago de Compostela in 1992 and her Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1999 from the University of Vigo, obtaining the maximal grade (magna cum laude) and, in addition, she was awarded with the Extraordinary Prize for Doctoral Thesis in Chemistry. She worked as an Associate Professor and an Isidro Parga Pondal Senior Researcher at the University of Vigo (2000-2004), as a Ramón y Cajal Senior Researcher at Rovira i Virgili University (2004-2008) and as an Ikerbasque Research Professor (2009-2019). She has also worked as an Invited Researcher at the Institute from Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology (Austria) and at the Department of Biological Engineering, University of Minho (Portugal). In 2008, she received the I3 Professor from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education to the recognition of an outstanding research activity. She has published more than 140 articles in highly reputed international journals (h index 42). She is editor of several journals (3Biotech, Frontiers) and 14 Elsevier books. Vineet Kumar is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (GGV), Bilaspur, India and teaches Environmental Microbiology and Cell and Molecular Biology at the same Institution. Before his joining, he worked as Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator at the Vinayak Vidyapeeth, Meerut, India. Kumar received M.Sc. and M.Phil. degree in Microbiology from Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut, India. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology from Babasaheb Bhimaro Ambedkar (A Central) University, Lucknow, India and later worked at the Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow, India as a Guest Faculty. He was a Senior Researcher in the School of Environmental Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India and worked on biodiesel production from oleaginous microbes and industrial sludge. He awarded a Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship by the University Grants Commission, India to support his doctoral work on “Distillery Wastewater Treatment” in 2012. His research interests include Bioremediation, Phytoremediation, Metagenomics, Wastewater Treatment, Environmental Monitoring, and Bioenergy and Biofuel Production. Currently, his research mainly focuses on the development of integrated and sustainable methods that can help in minimizing or eliminating hazardous substances in the environment. He is the author of numerous research/review articles published in international peer-reviewed journals from Springer Nature, Frontiers, and Elsevier on the different aspects of bioremediation, phytoremediation, and metagenomics of industrial waste polluted sites. In addition, he has published 10 Books on Phytoremediation and Bioremediation from CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group), and Elsevier Inc., USA. His recently published books are ‘Recent Advances in Distillery Waste Management for Environmental Safety’ (From CRC Press; Taylor & Francis Group, USA), and ‘New Trends In Removal Of Heavy Metals From Industrial Wastewater’ (From Elsevier Inc. USA), Microbe-Assisted Phytoremediation of Environmental Pollutants: Recent Advances and Challenges (from CRC Press; Taylor & Francis Group, USA). He is also a reviewer for many other international journals. He is an active member of numerous scientific societies and has served on the editorial board of the journal Current Research in Wastewater Management. As part of his interest in teaching biology, he is founder of the Society for Green Environment, India (website: www.sgeindia.org). He can be reached at drvineet.micro@gmail.com; vineet.way18@gmail.com.

• 1. Introduction2. Types of heavy metals and their effect in wastewater3. Current physico-chemical treatment technologies available for remediation of different types of heavy metals from wastewater4. Biological wastewater treatment technology; advancement and drawbacks for the remediation of heavy metals5. Hurdles in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) performance optimization for the remediation of heavy metals6. Role of bacteria and algae in remediation of heavy metals from WWTPs7. Modified and new adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater8. Removal of heavy metals using bentonite clay and inorganic coagulants9. Sustainable heavy metal remediation10. Efficient techniques for the removal of toxic heavy metals from wastewater 11. Full-Scale implementation of a vertical membrane bioreactor for remediation of heavy metals from wastewater12. Low-cost adsorbents, techniques and heavy metal removal efficiency13. Removal of heavy metals from mine waters by natural zeolites14. Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions: kinetics and equilibrium modelling15. Heavy metals in water: presence, removal and safety16. Mechanisms of heavy metal removal using microorganisms as biosorbents17. Heavy metal removal by bioaccumulation using genetically engineered microorganisms18. Genetic engineering of Escherichia coli for enhanced uptake and bioaccumulation of mercury19. New trends in removing heavy metals from industrial wastewater20. The construction of an engineered bacterium to remove cadmium from wastewater21. Genetic engineering of bacteria and their potential for heavy metal bioremediation22. Biosorption and bioaccumulation - the prospects for practical applications23. Batch and continuous removal of heavy metals from industrial effluents using microbial consortia

Dr. Maulin P. Shah is a distinguished environmental scientist, academician, and globally recognized expert in the fields of environmental biotechnology and sustainablewastewater treatment. He has made significant contributions to advancing eco-friendlytechnologies for pollution control, particularly through innovative biological treatment processes. Dr. Shah holds extensive academic and research experience, with a strong focus onindustrial wastewater treatment, bioremediation, and microalgae-based technologies. His work emphasizes the integration of sustainability principles with practical engineering solutions, helping industries reduce their environmental footprint.Remarkably, Dr. Shah has edited over 300+ books covering a wide spectrum of cutting-edge domains, including industrial wastewater microbiology, bioremediation, biodegradation, algal biotechnology, biofuel, bioenergy, circular economy, metagenomics related to wastewater treatment, and enzyme engineering. This exceptional editorial contribution reflects his deep expertise and unparalleled commitment to advancing global knowledge in environmental science.Over the years, he has also authored and contributed to numerous high-impactresearch papers and scholarly books published by reputed international publishers. Hispublications are widely cited and serve as essential references for researchers, academicians, and industry professionals worldwide.He is actively associated as an Editorial Board Member in more than 30 high-reputedinternational journals affiliated with leading organizations and publishers. His extensive editorial involvementhighlights his leadership and recognition in the global scientific community.Dr. Shah is widely recognized for his collaborative research with leading scientistsacross the globe, promoting interdisciplinary solutions to complex environmental challenges.His work effectively bridges the gap between fundamental research and real-world industrialapplications. In addition to his research excellence, he has been invited as a keynote speaker at numerous national and international conferences, where he shares valuable insights on sustainable development, wastewater management, and environmental innovation. He is also deeply committed to mentoring students and young researchers, fostering academic growth and inspiring future leaders in environmental science and engineering.Beyond academia, Dr. Shah contributes to industry-oriented solutions and policy-relevant research aimed at environmental protection, resource recovery, and sustainabledevelopment. Through his relentless dedication and visionary approach, Dr. Maulin P. Shahhas established himself as a leading authority in environmental sustainability, committed tobuilding a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future. Susana Rodríguez-Couto is a professor in biological water treatment at LUT University, Finland. She got her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Chemistry (Industrial Chemistry) from the University of Santiago de Compostela in 1992 and her Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1999 from the University of Vigo, obtaining the maximal grade (magna cum laude) and, in addition, she was awarded with the Extraordinary Prize for Doctoral Thesis in Chemistry. She worked as an Associate Professor and an Isidro Parga Pondal Senior Researcher at the University of Vigo (2000-2004), as a Ramón y Cajal Senior Researcher at Rovira i Virgili University (2004-2008) and as an Ikerbasque Research Professor (2009-2019). She has also worked as an Invited Researcher at the Institute from Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology (Austria) and at the Department of Biological Engineering, University of Minho (Portugal). In 2008, she received the I3 Professor from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education to the recognition of an outstanding research activity. She has published more than 140 articles in highly reputed international journals (h index 42). She is editor of several journals (3Biotech, Frontiers) and 14 Elsevier books. Vineet Kumar is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (GGV), Bilaspur, India and teaches Environmental Microbiology and Cell and Molecular Biology at the same Institution. Before his joining, he worked as Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator at the Vinayak Vidyapeeth, Meerut, India. Kumar received M.Sc. and M.Phil. degree in Microbiology from Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut, India. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology from Babasaheb Bhimaro Ambedkar (A Central) University, Lucknow, India and later worked at the Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow, India as a Guest Faculty. He was a Senior Researcher in the School of Environmental Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India and worked on biodiesel production from oleaginous microbes and industrial sludge. He awarded a Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship by the University Grants Commission, India to support his doctoral work on “Distillery Wastewater Treatment” in 2012. His research interests include Bioremediation, Phytoremediation, Metagenomics, Wastewater Treatment, Environmental Monitoring, and Bioenergy and Biofuel Production. Currently, his research mainly focuses on the development of integrated and sustainable methods that can help in minimizing or eliminating hazardous substances in the environment. He is the author of numerous research/review articles published in international peer-reviewed journals from Springer Nature, Frontiers, and Elsevier on the different aspects of bioremediation, phytoremediation, and metagenomics of industrial waste polluted sites. In addition, he has published 10 Books on Phytoremediation and Bioremediation from CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group), and Elsevier Inc., USA. His recently published books are ‘Recent Advances in Distillery Waste Management for Environmental Safety’ (From CRC Press; Taylor & Francis Group, USA), and ‘New Trends In Removal Of Heavy Metals From Industrial Wastewater’ (From Elsevier Inc. USA), Microbe-Assisted Phytoremediation of Environmental Pollutants: Recent Advances and Challenges (from CRC Press; Taylor & Francis Group, USA). He is also a reviewer for many other international journals. He is an active member of numerous scientific societies and has served on the editorial board of the journal Current Research in Wastewater Management. As part of his interest in teaching biology, he is founder of the Society for Green Environment, India (website: www.sgeindia.org). He can be reached at drvineet.micro@gmail.com; vineet.way18@gmail.com.

• 1. Introduction2. Types of heavy metals and their effect in wastewater3. Current physico-chemical treatment technologies available for remediation of different types of heavy metals from wastewater4. Biological wastewater treatment technology; advancement and drawbacks for the remediation of heavy metals5. Hurdles in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) performance optimization for the remediation of heavy metals6. Role of bacteria and algae in remediation of heavy metals from WWTPs7. Modified and new adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater8. Removal of heavy metals using bentonite clay and inorganic coagulants9. Sustainable heavy metal remediation10. Efficient techniques for the removal of toxic heavy metals from wastewater 11. Full-Scale implementation of a vertical membrane bioreactor for remediation of heavy metals from wastewater12. Low-cost adsorbents, techniques and heavy metal removal efficiency13. Removal of heavy metals from mine waters by natural zeolites14. Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions: kinetics and equilibrium modelling15. Heavy metals in water: presence, removal and safety16. Mechanisms of heavy metal removal using microorganisms as biosorbents17. Heavy metal removal by bioaccumulation using genetically engineered microorganisms18. Genetic engineering of Escherichia coli for enhanced uptake and bioaccumulation of mercury19. New trends in removing heavy metals from industrial wastewater20. The construction of an engineered bacterium to remove cadmium from wastewater21. Genetic engineering of bacteria and their potential for heavy metal bioremediation22. Biosorption and bioaccumulation - the prospects for practical applications23. Batch and continuous removal of heavy metals from industrial effluents using microbial consortia