Abstract
Petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals and agricultural pesticides have mutagenic, carcinogenic, immunotoxic and teratogenic effects and cause drastic changes in soil physicochemical and microbiological characteristics, thereby representing a serious danger to health and environment. Therefore, soil pollution urgently requires the application of a series of physicochemical and biological techniques and treatments to minimize the extent of damage. Among them, bioremediation has been shown to be an alternative that can offer an economically viable way to restore polluted areas. Due to the difficulty in choosing the best bioremediation technique for each type of pollutant and the paucity of literature on soil bioremediation enhanced by the use of specific additives, we reviewed the main in situ and ex situ methods, their current properties and applications. The first section discusses the characteristics of each class of pollutants in detail, while the second section presents current bioremediation technologies and their main uses, followed by a comparative analysis showing their respective advantages and disadvantages. Finally, we address the application of surfactants and biosurfactants as well as the main trends in the bioremediation of contaminated soils.
Highlights
The release of many types of contaminants is causing serious harm to all life-forms due to increasing global industrialization [1]
A case study conducted on pentachlorophenol in New Mexico identified the following main factors influencing the outcome of bioremediation of organic compound-polluted soil: (1) pesticide bioavailability, (2) rate of microbial uptake, (3) rate of enzymatic degradation, and (4) rate of cell growth using the pesticide as carbon and energy source [46]
Surfactant-enhanced soil washing and removal of lyophilic contaminants can occur in two different ways: the first, which consists of displacement, occurs below critical micelle concentration (CMC), while the second, called solubilization, at higher concentrations
Summary
The release of many types of contaminants is causing serious harm to all life-forms due to increasing global industrialization [1]. The methods available for soil remediation can be grouped into three categories, namely chemical, physical, and biological methods, the latter being carried out either in the polluted place (in situ) or outside it (ex situ) Bioprocesses such as phyto- and bioremediation have recently been intensively studied because they are ecofriendly, are able to quickly remove various contaminants and have a relatively lower cost compared to pre-existing techniques [3,4]. The application of surfactants and biosurfactants to remediation techniques stands out because these compounds are able to reduce the interfacial and surface tensions and increase the rate of biodegradation in contaminated soils Based on these considerations, the sections will address how most soil contamination occurs, the different ex-situ or in-situ bioremediation techniques available, and the current scenario of new technologies related to bioremediation processes
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