**Acknowledgements**

mineral acid and was diluted to obtain desired metal concentration. The metal solution was then subjected to biosorption column consisting of inactive granulated biomass of *C. clado‐ sporioides* #1 for selective removal of silver. Similarly, in the next step, cadmium was removed by biosorption process by passing the solution through biosorbent column. The silver and cadmium free solution after treatment was then fed to tellurium reducing bioreactor consisting *P. mendocina*. The overall removal and recovery efficiency of these metals was >90%. With the rising demand and shift towards renewable energy sources, the number of photovoltaic cells producing units/industries will increase in the years to come; and so the use of non-renewable resources like metals and it wastages in the form of rejections. Although the economic feasibility of the process was not studied by the researchers) but the study certainly add to the advancement of knowledge by employing combined passive and active bioremediaton

Pethkar et al. (2001) reported an interesting study on the removal of toxic metals like lead and cadmium from fruit juices of carrot, grapes and oranges, and extracts of Jatamansi herb and raisin by passive bioremediation using the biomass of *C. cladosporioides* #2. With a growth rate of 15%, the annual turnover of herbal medicinal industry in India is Rs. 75,000 million. As per ASSOCHAM (Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry), the turnover of herbal industry is projected to double to Rs.1,50,000 million (USD 3 billion) by 2015. However, the business is getting severely affected by the presence of toxic heavy metals into food and herbal products thereby making them unacceptable in foreign markets because of their stringent statutory norms. Therefore, removal of these toxic metals from such products using biosorp‐ tion process is crucial and has great prospectus. Sun et al (2007) had reported sorption of heavy metal ions by polyaspartyl polymers from Chinese herbal medicines. However, there is paucity

of literature on biosorption of toxic metals from herbal medicines and food products.

Bhat et al (2012) had proposed a novel integrated model for the recovery of gold/silver from e-waste using an integrated hydrometallurgical (chemical) and biometallurgical (low cost biomass) processes. Feasibility study was conducted to explore the possibility of removal/ recovery of silver-cyanide using low-cost biosorbents. *Eicchornia* root biomass and Waste tea powder were found to be an efficient low-cost biosorbents for leached silver-cyanide from electronic scrap. The concentrated silver-cyanide recovered had the potential for its further use as input material for electroplating industry (Bhat et al, 2012). Awareness among the urban population regarding disposal and management e-waste has also been studied by Bhat and

In the twenty-first century, entire world is witnessing a paradigm shift in the overall waste management practices, which is rapidly changing its face and orientation. Waste is no more considered as waste but is recognized as a 'Resource'. This lost resource could potentially be recovered from the wastes using suitable strategies and technologies. Therefore, in a real sense, model like recovery and recycling of waste resource is gaining remarkable importance in today's so called 'Technological Society'. Application of concepts similar to this work will ultimately reduce the demand for natural resources thereby extending its sustenance. In view of this, the present chapter on passive bioremediation will certainly add to the advancement of knowledge in the field of resource recovery and industrial pollution management, waste

(Paknikar et al 1997).

278 Applied Bioremediation - Active and Passive Approaches

Patil (2012).

Dr. Yogesh Patil gratefully acknowledges the International Foundation for Science (IFS), Stockholm, Sweden, in cooperation with The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), The Hague, The Netherlands, for providing the research grant.
