Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Pollution

Abstract

Uncontrolled and catastrophic releases of petroleum pose ecologicaland environmental repercussions as a lot of hydrocarbon components are toxic and persistent in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Several physico-chemical methods of decontaminating the environment have been established and employed. Biological degradation, a safe, effective and an economic alternative method, is a process of decay initiated by biological agents, specifically in this case by microorganisms. Bioremediation refers to site restoration through the removal of organic contaminants by microorganisms. Biodegradation of hydrocarbons is largely carried out by diverse bacterial populations, which are ubiquitously distributed in the environment. The most commonly reported genera of hydrocarbon-degraders include <i>Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Nocardia, Vibrio </i>and <i>Achromobacter. </i>The factors, that influence the rates of microbial degradation of hydrocarbons, include temperature, <i>pH, </i>salinity, oxygen, nutrients, and physical and chemical composition of petroleum. Due to the complexity of crude oil, biodegradation involves the interaction of many different microbial species. It could be attributed to the effects of synergistic interactions among members of the consortium.