Bacterial nanotechnology: The intersection impact of bacteriology and nanotechnology on the wastewater treatment sector

Wastewater treatment is one of the top priorities on the global research agenda with several techniques proposed to increase the efficiency of the process. Conventional methods are still facing major obstacles, so there is an urgent need for novel approaches to achieve maximum effectiveness with minimal economic and environmental impact. The interesting interaction between bacterial cells and NMs is the focus of a relatively new field, referred to in this review as Bacterial Nanotechnology (Bac-Nano), which can positively contribute to the development of wastewater treatment technologies. However, it is also believed that incorporating NMs into various wastewater treatment systems may lead to new economic and ecological challenges compared to conventional technologies. In this review, the various applications of Bac-Nano for wastewater treatment are critically analyzed in terms of economic feasibility, performance, environmental risk, and the potential for commercial-scale development. These applications are evaluated to determine which might be the most suitable to replace current wastewater treatment technology. [Display omitted] •Bac-Nano is a new field of science that integrates bacteria and nanomaterials.•Bac-Nano technologies can replace conventional methods for wastewater treatment.•Biosurfactants/nano-immobilization are among the highest-performance applications.•Ag and Fe were the least expensive nanomaterials in Bac-Nano applications.•Ecological risk and economics are core for the scaling up of Bac-Nano applications.