From contamination to cleanup: The role of microorganisms in modern bioremediation practices

Environmental pollution is increasing cause of concern.Introduction of petroleum products and toxic materials into the environment causes disruption of ecosystems and pose serious problem to biodiversity.Hydrocarbons are the chemical compounds found in petroleum-based products, can contaminate soil and water leading to toxic effects on both terrestrial and aquatic habitat.Bioremediation process provides an effective approach to eradicate these components and an alternative effective method for cleaning up toxic waste from polluted areas.This process involves uses various microorganisms of different genera like Pesudomonas Achromobacter, Flavobacterium, Acinetobacter either single or consortia to treat these pollutants.Microorganisms play a crucial role by eliminating, these pollutants by degrading them or by utilizing them as nutrient source by different enzymatic pathways.The primary objective of bioremediation is to degrade pollutants and convert them into less harmful forms.Considering on various parameters either ex situ or in situ bioremediation methods are chosen.This review highlights the latest advancements in bioremediation process, by which microorganisms can be used to break down different pollutants, and the future prospects for bioremediation in reducing pollution levels to attain environmental sustainability.