Biological applications for enhancing efficiency of petroleum wastewater treatment, a critical review

Microbial hydrocarbon remediation offers sustainable degradation but faces scalability challenges. This review evaluates Bioaugmentation, anaerobic digestion, and hybrid systems through LCA and techno-economic lenses, proposing pathways for commercialization. The treatment of petroleum wastewater poses significant environmental and operational challenges due to its complex composition, including high levels of organic pollutants, heavy metals, and toxic hydrocarbons. This review examines the principles, applications, and advancements in biological treatment technologies for oily wastewater, focusing on aerobic, anaerobic processes and biogas production. Optimization strategies, such as operational control, and microbial enhancement were discussed. The role of biological-physicochemical pretreatment in enhancing oily wastewater biodegradability and boosting biogas yields was identified. The integration of anaerobic and aerobic methods enhances pollutant removal and resource recovery, demonstrating superior adaptability and scalability in petroleum wastewater treatment was evaluated. Emerging technologies, including membrane bioreactors (MBRs), microbial fuel cells (MFCs), enzymatic bioremediation, and AI-driven monitoring, are identified. The review provides a comprehensive evaluation of current practices and future trends in biological wastewater treatment, emphasizing its role in sustainability, circular economy integration, and renewable energy production. Advancing microbial optimization, refining operational parameters, and incorporating intelligent monitoring systems will be key to enhancing the efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of these technologies in petroleum wastewater management.