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Bioremediation

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.

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Updated: May 30, 2025

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation

Published on: October 31, 2019

Microbes as Resources to Remove PPCPs and Improve Water Quality.

Francesca Demaria¹, Marcel Suleiman¹, Philippe Corvini¹

¹Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern, Muttenz, Switzerland.

Microbial Biotechnology

|January 27, 2025

Summary

Microbial bioremediation offers a sustainable solution for removing pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater. Harnessing microorganisms effectively addresses environmental contamination and protects public health from persistent pollutants.

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Last Updated: May 30, 2025

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Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution

Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution

Published on: December 30, 2021

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Microbiology
Environmental Chemistry

Background:

Traditional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) inadequately remove pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs).
Residual PPCPs contaminate aquatic ecosystems, leading to bioaccumulation, antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dissemination, and potential human health risks like endocrine disruption.
There is a critical need for advanced treatment methods to address PPCP pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the potential of microbial bioremediation for addressing PPCP contamination in water systems.
To highlight the efficacy of microorganisms and their enzymes in degrading, transforming, or sequestering PPCPs.
To emphasize the role of microbial adaptability in developing sustainable water treatment solutions.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on microbial bioremediation strategies for PPCP removal.
Analysis of studies investigating the metabolic capabilities of microbial communities against PPCPs.
Exploration of microbial resilience and adaptability to various PPCP contaminants.

Main Results:

Microorganisms and their enzymes demonstrate significant potential for efficient PPCP degradation and transformation.
Microbial communities show remarkable adaptability to diverse PPCP contaminants, offering robust bioremediation capabilities.
Bioremediation presents a sustainable and cost-effective approach compared to conventional methods.

Conclusions:

Microbial bioremediation is a promising strategy to mitigate the environmental and public health challenges posed by PPCPs.
Harnessing microbial metabolic functions can lead to effective water purification and safeguard ecosystem health.
Further research into microbial bioremediation can enhance water treatment sustainability and protect human well-being.