Abstract
Bioremediation of contaminated soils has gained increasing interest in recent years as a low-cost and environmentally friendly technology to clean soils polluted with anthropogenic contaminants. However, some organic pollutants in soil have a low biodegradability or are not bioavailable, which hampers the use of bioremediation for their removal. This is the case of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which normally are stable and hydrophobic chemical structures. In this review, several approaches for the decontamination of PAH-polluted soil are presented and discussed in detail. The use of compost as biostimulation- and bioaugmentation-coupled technologies are described in detail, and some parameters, such as the stability of compost, deserve special attention to obtain better results. Composting as an ex situ technology, with the use of some specific products like surfactants, is also discussed. In summary, the use of compost and composting are promising technologies (in all the approaches presented) for the bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils.
Highlights
Different anthropogenic activities have resulted in increasing environmental pollution, and its consequences has injured almost all components of the ecosystem [1,2,3]
This review focuses on the application of composting and compost addition for the bioremediation of soils contaminated with Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
PAH persistence and hydrophobicity in environmental components are the main factors that exacerbate the pollution problem, taking into account that soils receives a considerable share of this pollution, due to their complex matrix structure that facilitates the sorption of these pollutants
Summary
Different anthropogenic activities have resulted in increasing environmental pollution, and its consequences has injured almost all components of the ecosystem [1,2,3]. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum, and related derivatives represent the main sources of soil contamination [13,14,15,16,17] These organic pollutant groups are listed as priorities and receive considerable attention, owing to their toxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, and potentially cancer-causing properties [18,19]. The functionality of these microorganisms is affected by different factors within the composting mixture, including biotic and abiotic factors In this context, the environmental condition (pH, temperature, moisture,), nutrient availability, oxygen presence, and bioavailability of the contaminants are essential parameters for process control and performance [38]. Other issues, such as bioavailability, surfactant application, and the degradation pathways of PAHs are illustrated, in order to provide an insight into the process that is necessary for new development
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
