Potential microbes in bioremediation: A review

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the soaring environmental pollution due to hastened industrialization and pernicious agricultural processes has become a substantial obstacle. The existence of detrimental contaminants like nuclear wastes, heavy metals, pesticides, hydrocarbons, oils, and dyes has been withering the environment and human health. In this context, microbial bioremediation has established itself as the most comprehensive biotechnological process for environmental restoration. The application of microbial communities in bioremediation is gaining momentum as an astounding, environmentally sound, and economically efficient means to mitigate the harmful effects of toxic pollutants. Microorganisms serve as invaluable resources for environmental restoration and remediation of polluted soil, showcasing their presence across a wide range of environmental conditions. Precisely microorganisms are distributed all over the biosphere due to their diverse metabolic activity and can easily grow in a wide range of environmental conditions which in an environment often create a variety of enzymes that can eliminate hazardous contaminants by using them as a substrate for growth. To enhance the metabolic potential of microbes, currently, different methods and strategies like biostimulation, bioaugmentation, bioventing, etc. are applied. The present review focuses on microbial diversity in bioremediation, different techniques applied, and the bioremediation of different environmental pollutants. It additionally attempted to highlight the monitoring of the bioremediation processes and their sustainability.