The increasing discharge of zinc-containing effluents from manufacturing sectors such as electroplating, textile processing, and metal finishing has raised significant environmental and public health concerns. Conventional physicochemical treatment technologies, while effective under controlled conditions, often exhibit limitations including high operational costs, sludge generation, and reduced efficiency at low metal concentrations. In response to these challenges, biological approaches—particularly those employing metal-resistant bacterial systems—have emerged as sustainable and cost-effective alternatives for zinc remediation.

This study investigates the feasibility of biogenic zinc recovery using tolerance-enabled bacterial strains, focusing on their applicability in industrial wastewater treatment systems. The research integrates principles of microbial biosorption, bioaccumulation, and metabolic transformation, positioning resistant bacterial systems as viable tools for heavy metal removal. Theoretical frameworks related to wastewater treatment optimization, decentralized systems, and resource recovery are examined to contextualize the biological approach within broader environmental engineering strategies.

A comprehensive literature synthesis highlights the evolution of wastewater treatment technologies, emphasizing the transition from centralized treatment infrastructures toward integrated and decentralized systems that facilitate resource recovery (Capodaglio, 2017; Libralato et al., 2012). The role of advanced treatment techniques, including membrane systems and multi-criteria decision-making frameworks, is analyzed in comparison to biological remediation methods (Heller et al., 1998; Mahjouri et al., 2017). Particular attention is given to the microbial removal of zinc using resistant bacteria, demonstrating significant removal efficiencies and adaptability under varying environmental conditions (Pratap et al., 2022).

The methodological framework proposed in this study includes isolation and characterization of zinc-tolerant bacterial strains, optimization of operational parameters such as pH, temperature, and biomass concentration, and evaluation of biosorption kinetics and isotherms. Hypothetical case models are developed to assess the integration of biological systems within existing wastewater treatment networks.

Findings indicate that bacterial-mediated zinc removal offers high efficiency, scalability, and environmental compatibility. However, challenges related to process stability, biomass recovery, and industrial implementation remain critical considerations. The study concludes that biogenic zinc recovery represents a promising pathway toward sustainable wastewater management, aligning with global trends in resource recovery and circular economy practices.