Nanomaterial-mediated strategies for enhancing bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: A systematic review

Author: mycolabadmin
12/1/2024
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Summary

This review examines how combining tiny engineered materials (nanomaterials) with natural microorganisms can more effectively clean up environmental pollution from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are harmful chemicals produced by burning fossil fuels and other processes. The study found that using nanomaterials alongside bacteria significantly improved pollution removal rates in water and soil, with improvements of up to 19% in liquid samples and 14% in soil samples. Different types of nanomaterials like carbon-based materials and metal oxides work by helping bacteria degrade pollutants more efficiently through various mechanisms. This approach offers a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution compared to using traditional remediation methods alone.

Background

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are pervasive environmental pollutants formed from partial combustion of organic matter that pose significant threats to ecological systems and human health due to their cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. While nanomaterials are effective for PAH remediation, concerns regarding environmental compatibility and sustainability remain. Integration of nanomaterials with bioremediation methods offers a more sustainable and ecofriendly approach to PAH remediation.

Objective

This systematic review examines the integration of nanomaterials with bioremediation methods for PAH remediation. The study aims to quantify the efficiency improvements when nanomaterials are combined with bioremediation and to identify strategies of nano-bioremediation for PAH degradation.

Results

Nano-bioremediation showed 18.9% improvement in PAH removal in liquid-phase samples (71.1% vs 52.2%) and 14.3% improvement in soil samples (75.1% vs 60.8%) compared to bioremediation alone. Various nanomaterials including metal oxides, carbon-based materials, magnetic nanoparticles, and metal-organic frameworks enhanced PAH degradation efficiency. Five nano-bioremediation strategies were identified: nanomaterial-assisted microbial degradation, enzyme-enhanced microbial activity, immobilized microbial cells, electron transfer facilitation, and eco-green biogenic nanomaterial approaches.

Conclusion

Integration of nanomaterials with bioremediation substantially enhances PAH degradation efficiency in both liquid and soil environments. Nanomaterials improve contaminant bioavailability, facilitate microbial colonization, and accelerate enzymatic degradation through synergistic interactions with microorganisms. Future research should focus on addressing nanotoxicity concerns and developing sustainable, economically viable nano-bioremediation technologies for practical environmental remediation applications.

Published in:Hybrid Advances,
Study Type:Systematic Review,
Source: PMID: 39758813