Methods Using Marine Aquatic Photoautotrophs along the Qatari Coastline to Remediate Oil and Gas Industrial Water

Qatar and other Gulf States have a diverse range of marine vegetation that is adapted to the stressful environmental conditions of seawater. The industrial wastewater produced by oil and gas activities adds further detrimental conditions for marine aquatic photosynthetic organisms on the Qatari coastlines. Thus, these organisms experience severe stress from both seawater and industrial wastewater. This review discusses the biodiversity in seawater around Qatar, as well as remediation methods and metabolic pathways to reduce the negative impacts of heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons produced during these activities. The role of microorganisms that are adjacent to or associated with these aquatic marine organisms is discussed. Exudates that are released by plant roots enhance the role of microorganisms to degrade organic pollutants and immobilize heavy metals. Seaweeds may have other roles such as biosorption and nutrient uptake of extra essential elements to avoid or reduce eutrophication in marine environments. Special attention is paid to mangrove forests and their roles in remediating shores polluted by industrial wastewater. Seagrasses (Halodule uninervis, Halophila ovalis, and Thalassia hemprichii) can be used as promising candidates for phytoremediation or bioindicators for pollution status. Some genera among seaweeds that have proven efficient in accumulating the most common heavy metals found in gas activities and biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons are discussed.