strategies to enhance bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation in contaminated environments: a review

Background: petroleum hydrocarbon contamination poses significant environmental and health risks due to its persistence and widespread occurrence. bioremediation offers a sustainable, cost-effective solution by leveraging microbial degradation mechanisms. methods: a literature review was conducted using databases such as pubmed, web of science, and scopus, focusing on peer-reviewed articles published within the last decade. keywords related to petroleum hydrocarbon bioremediation guided the search, while inclusion/exclusion criteria ensured relevance and quality. results: the study revealed a wide array of microbial metabolic pathways capable of degrading hydrocarbons under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, highlighting enzymatic versatility and genetic adaptability. innovative enhancement strategies such as bioaugmentation with specialized consortia, biostimulation through nutrient optimization, surfactant-induced bioavailability improvement, and integration with nanotechnology and synthetic biology demonstrated substantial increases in remediation efficiency. monitoring advancements, including molecular tools and real-time sensors, improved process understanding and control. the emergence of novel contaminants and complex mixtures necessitates adaptive, multidisciplinary approaches. conclusion: this review underscores the transformative potential of integrated bioremediation technologies in tackling petroleum pollution. strategic combinations of microbial engineering, advanced materials, and ecological insights offer scalable solutions. these findings advocate for policy alignment and interdisciplinary collaboration to achieve sustainable environmental restoration.