Genetically engineered microorganisms: A promising frontier for PFAS bioremediation

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental pollutants widely used in industrial applications due to their exceptional chemical stability. However, their presence in wastewater poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating innovative remediation strategies. Traditional treatment methods are inadequate for breaking strong carbon-fluorine bonds and present substantial process safety risks including high-temperature operations (800–1200°C), explosive potential, and toxic gas emissions. This has led to increased interest in genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs), which offer inherently safer operating conditions with ambient temperatures , atmospheric pressure, and reduced explosion risks. This review explores GEMs' potential for PFAS degradation, focusing on genetic engineering technologies such as CRISPR, synthetic biology, and metabolic pathway engineering. The review highlights target enzyme optimization, including dehalogenases and oxygenases, showing promise for cleaving PFAS bonds. Process safety advantages include elimination of high-pressure vessels, reduced fire hazards, and containment of byproducts within controlled biological systems. Strategies for enhancing microbial efficiency, including metabolic flux analysis and co-metabolism, are discussed alongside scaling challenges from laboratory to pilot applications. Key considerations include environmental concerns, microbial containment, reactor safety design, and accident prevention protocols to balance technological benefits with ecological safety. Comparative analysis demonstrates GEMs' superior safety profile versus conventional treatments. Future directions emphasize integrating GEMs into existing wastewater treatment systems and advancing bioreactor designs. Research gaps, including long-term ecological impacts and economic scalability, are critical areas requiring study. With responsible deployment, GEMs provide sustainable solution for mitigating PFAS environmental impact.