Microbial enzyme-based water treatment in smart cities: A synoptic review

In many countries, governments are emphasizing the development of smart cities to establish economic growth and provide a quality of life to the inhabitants. Reutilization of wastewater after treatment can prevent water scarcity in smart cities. However, the presence of emerging contaminants (ECs) in wastewater poses serious health concerns. Traditional contaminant removal technologies have high operational costs, energy and carbon-intensive natures, and the generation of non-biodegradable and hazardous byproducts. In this context, microbial enzymes promise to provide a sustainable and low-cost approach for the removal of ECs. Various microbial enzymes, such as laccase, tyrosinase, amylase, lipase, etc., are being studied for ECs’ removal from wastewater. This review will discuss the concept of water management strategies in smart cities. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the issue of ECs in treated wastewater and the benefits of utilizing microbial enzymes for efficient EC removal. The review further discusses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to enzymatic water treatment.