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Related Concept Videos

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...
Bioremediation00:46

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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.
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides

Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
Bioplastics01:27

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
Microbial Wastewater Treatment01:30

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Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.

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Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
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Published on: October 31, 2019

Rethinking microplastic cleanup: sustainable bioremediation compared to conventional physical-chemical methods.

Sudeshna Chell1, Uttiya Dey2, Kousik Das1

  • 1Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, SRM University-AP Amaravati-522240 Andhra Pradesh India kousik.d@srmap.edu.in.

RSC Advances
|June 1, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Bioremediation offers a sustainable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly solution for microplastic (MP) removal, outperforming traditional physical-chemical methods. Microorganisms and their enzymes effectively degrade MPs, presenting a promising approach for large-scale environmental management.

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Published on: March 21, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Biotechnology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Microplastics (MPs) are persistent environmental pollutants due to their hydrophobic nature and slow degradation.
  • Accumulation of MPs from plastic waste poses risks to ecosystems and human health.
  • Existing physical-chemical removal technologies face limitations such as high energy demand, cost, and secondary pollutant generation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate physical-chemical microplastic removal technologies.
  • To compare these technologies with bioremediation methods.
  • To highlight the advantages of bioremediation for sustainable microplastic management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of physical-chemical MP removal techniques (e.g., membrane filtration, adsorption, coagulation).
  • Analysis of biological remediation using microorganisms (e.g., fungi, bacteria) and their enzymes.
  • Comparative assessment of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact.

Main Results:

  • Physical-chemical methods like ultrafiltration membranes and layered double hydroxide granules show high removal efficiencies (91-96%).
  • Biological remediation demonstrates significant degradation rates: Aspergillus tubingensis degraded ~90% of polyurethane, and Phanerochaete chrysosporium removed ~31% of PVC.
  • Bioremediation offers a more sustainable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative.

Conclusions:

  • Microorganisms and their enzymes degrade MPs through fragmentation, de-polymerization, and mineralization.
  • Mixed microbial cultures (bacteria, fungi, microalgae) offer a sustainable approach to mitigate MP contamination.
  • Bioremediation presents significant advantages over conventional methods for large-scale microplastic management.