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Environmental applications of microbial extremophiles in the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in extreme environments

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Abstract

The ubiquitous occurrence, recalcitrance, bioaccumulation potential and toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons have gained significant environmental concern. The petroleum hydrocarbon contaminations are frequent in the extreme environments where the temperature, pH, salt concentrations, and/or pressure vary from normal conditions. Bioremediation using naturally occurring microorganisms is a promising tool for removal of hydrocarbons from contaminated environments, since it is effective, inexpensive and eco-friendly. Degradation of hydrocarbons depends on various factors including structure and other properties of the target hydrocarbon, environmental conditions and, quantity and type of the microbes present at contaminated sites. Hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms are usually present in diverse environments and the ability of these microbes to adapt under extreme environments are often exploited for bioremediation. In this review, the processes of extremophiles to degrade different constituents of petroleum hydrocarbons including polyaromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, have been explained for soil and marine ecosystems, in extreme environments.

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(redrawn from Hwang et al. 2007; Rojo 2010; Leewis et al. 2016)

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Acknowledgements

PP, BB, ND gratefully acknowledge Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, for financial support. JR is grateful to University Grant Commission for the fellowship.

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  1. Department of Microbiology, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, 788011, India

    Jina Rajkumari, Bhrigu Bhuyan, Nandita Das & Piyush Pandey

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Rajkumari, J., Bhuyan, B., Das, N. et al. Environmental applications of microbial extremophiles in the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in extreme environments. Environmental Sustainability 2, 311–328 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-019-00065-1

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