Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon Pollutants: Recent Promising Sustainable Approaches, Scope, and Challenges

Abstract

The increasing population density and industrialization are adversely affecting the environment globally. The contamination of the soil, agricultural lands, and water bodies with petroleum wastes and other hydrocarbon pollutants has become a serious environmental concern as perceived by the impacts on the aquatic and marine ecosystem. Various investigations have provided novel insights into the significant roles of microbial activities in the cleanup of hydrocarbon contaminants. However, the burden of these pollutants is expected to increase many folds in the next decade. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate and develop low-cost technologies rapidly, focusing on eco-sustainable development. An understanding of the details of biodegradation mechanisms paves the way for enhancing the efficiency of bioremediation technology. The current article reviews the applicability of various bioremediation processes, biodegradation pathways, and treatments, and the role of microbial activities in achieving efficient eco-sustainable bioremediation of hydrocarbon pollutants. It is envisaged that an integrated bioremediation approach, including biostimulation and bioaugmentation is preferably advocated for the cost-effective removal of toxic petroleum hydrocarbons and their derivatives.

The function of microbial enzymes in breaking down soil contaminated with pesticides: a review

“…Once these biotas are released to the soil, they are capable of quickly developing and they breakdown particular pesticide compounds that serve as carbon and energy source to these soil microorganisms, opening the way for the remediation of pesticide-contaminated sites [ 9 , 15 , 18 , 30 ]. Furthermore, white rot fungus, Auricularia auricula , Phanerochaete chrysosporium , and Dichomitus squalens are examples of pesticide-degrading fungi [ 5 , 26 ]. These fungi generate hydrogen peroxide, as well as the extracellular enzyme that are capable of decomposing pesticide compounds.…”

“…Other bacterial enzymes capable of pesticide degradation include nitro-reductase enzymes from aerobic and anaerobic metabolism bacteria [ 10 , 28 , 33 ] and esterases from Pseudomonas fluorescens [ 25 , 34 ]. Several microorganism enzymes capable of degrading carbofuran, carbaryl, aldicarb, lindane, endosulfan, DDT, and monocrotophos also have been identified [ 11 , 20 , 22 , 26 , 28 , 35 ].…”

“…They were reported to detoxify phenolic or anilinic compounds by catalyzing humification, polymerization, and copolymerization with other substrates [ 31 , 38 ]. Besides, hydrolytic enzymes lessen the toxicity of pesticides, including OP, OC, and carbamate insecticides, by disrupting their main chemical linkages [ 16 , 24 , 26 , 57 ]. Hydrolytic enzymes have wider application because they are readily available, tolerant to water-miscible solvent, and lack cofactor stereoselectivity [ 38 ].…”

“…; Sphingomonas sp. No Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) [ 1 , 26 ] LinB (hydrolytic dechlorinase) Sphingobium sp. ; Sphingomonas sp.…”

“…; Sphingomonas sp. No Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) [ 1 , 26 ] Esd (serine hydrolase) Myobacterium sp. Flavin and NADH Endosulfan [ 1 , 12 , 43 ] Ese (monooxygenase) Arthrobacter sp.…”