Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil: a review on principles, degradation mechanisms, and advancements

Petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) are key energy sources for several industries and daily life. Soil contamination from oily PHC spills is commonly detected in cities and industrial facilities where crude oil is used. The release of PHC pollutants into the environment, whether accidentally from petroleum industries or human activities, has become a leading source of soil pollution. Consequently, the mineralization of PHC-polluted sites has become a central issue worldwide. Although bioremediation is imperative for environmental safety and management, several approaches have been developed for PHC bioremediation. However, much remains to be explored in this regard. This review explores bioremediation of…