Review Article

Application of microorganisms in bioremediation-review

Endeshaw Abatenh, Birhanu Gizaw, Zerihun Tsegaye, Misganaw Wassie

Abatenh E, Gizaw B, Tsegaye Z, et al. Application of microorganisms in through the all-inclusive and action of microorganisms. The main principle
bioremediation-review Journal of Environmental Microbiology December is degrading and transforming pollutants such as hydrocarbons, oil, heavy
2017;1(1):02-09. metal, pesticides, dye’s and so on. That is carried out in enzymatic way
through metabolizing, so it have grate contribution role to solve many
Bioremediation is a biological mechanism of recycling wastes in to environmental problems. There are two types of factors these are biotic
another form that can use and reused by other organisms. Nowadays, the and abiotic conditions are determine rate of degradation. Currently,
world is facing the problem of different environmental pollution. different methods and strategies are applied in the area in different part of
Microorganisms are essential for a key alternative solution to overcome the world. For example, biostimulation, bioaugementation, bioventing,
challenges. Microorganisms are survive in all place on the biospher biopiles and bioattenuation are common one. All bioremidation techniques
because of their metabolic activity is astonishing; then come into existence it has its own advantage and disadvantage because it has its own specific
in all over range of environmental conditions. The nutritional capacity of application.
microorganisms is completely varied, so it is used as bioremidation of KeyWords: Microorganisms; Factors; Bioremediation; Pollutants;
environmental pollutants. Bioremediation is highly involved in Biodegradation; Biostimulation; Bioaugementation; Bioventing; Biopiles;
degradation, eradication, immobilization, or detoxification diverse Bioattenuation
chemical wastes and physical hazardous materials from the surrounding

INTRODUCTION pollutants only when they have access to a variety of materials compounds
to help them generate energy and nutrients to build more cells. The
Microorganisms are widely distributed on the biosphere because of their
efficiency of bioremediation depends on many factors; including, the
metabolic ability is very impressive and they can easily grow in a wide
chemical nature and concentration of pollutants, the physicochemical
range of environmental conditions. The nutritional versatility of
characteristics of the environment, and their availability to microorganisms
microorganisms can also be exploited for biodegradation of pollutants.
[4]. The reason for rate of degradation is affected due to bacteria and
This kind of process is termed as bioremediation. It is continued through
pollutants do not contact each other. In addition to this, microbes and
based on the ability of certain microorganisms to convert, modify and
pollutants are not uniformly spread in the environment. The controlling
utilize toxic pollutants in order to obtaining energy and biomass
and optimizing of bioremediation processes is a complex system due to
production in the process [1]. Instead of simply collecting the pollutant
many factors. These factors are included here: the existence of a microbial
and storing it, bioremediation is a microbiological well organized
population capable of degrading the pollutants, the availability of
procedural activity which is applied to break down or transform
contaminants to the microbial population and environment factors (type of
contaminates to less toxic or non-toxic elemental and compound forms.
soil, temperature, pH, the presence of oxygen or other electron acceptors,
Bioremediators are biological agents used for bioremediation in order to
and nutrients).
clean up contaminated sites. Bacteria, archaea and fungi are typical prime
bioremediators [2]. The application of bioremediation as a
biotechnological process involving microorganisms for solving and Biological factors
removing dangers of many pollutants through biodegradation from the A biotic factors are affect the degradation of organic compounds through
environment. Bioremediation and biodegradation terms are more competition between microorganisms for limited carbon sources,
interchangable words. Microorganisms are act as a significant pollutant antagonistic interactions between microorganisms or the predation of
removal tools in soil, water, and sediments; mostly due to their advantage microorganisms by protozoa and bacteriophages. The rate of contaminant
over other remediation procedural protocols. Microorganisms are restoring degradation is often dependent on the concentration of the contaminant
the original natural surroundings and preventing further pollution [3]. The and the amount of “catalyst” present. In this context, the amount of
aim of review to express current trend the application/role of “catalyst” represents the number of organisms able to metabolize the
microorganisms on bioremediation and to contribute relevant background contaminant as well as the amount of enzymes(s) produced by each cell.
which is identified gaps in this thematic area. Presently, it is hot research The expression of specific enzymes by the cells can increase or decrease
area because microorganisms are eco-friendly and promising valuable the rate of contaminant degradation. Furthermore, the extent to
genetic material to solve environmental threats. contaminant metabolism specific enzymes must be participated and their
“affinity” for the contaminant and also the availability of the contaminant
Factors affecting microbial bioremediation is largely needed. The major biological factors are included here:
mutation, horizontal gene transfer, enzyme activity, interaction
Bioremediation is involved in degrading, removing, altering,
(competition, succession, and predation), its own growth until critical
immobilizing, or detoxifying various chemicals and physical wastes from
biomass is reached, population size and composition [5,6].
the environment through the action of bacteria, fungi and plants.
Microorganisms are involved through their enzymatic pathways act as
biocatalysts and facilitate the progress of biochemical reactions that
degrade the desired pollutant. Microorganisms are act against the

Ethiopia Biodiversity Institute, Department of Microbiology, Comoros Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Correspondence: Abatenh E, Ethiopia Biodiversity Institute, Department of Microbiology, Comoros Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Telephone:
+251912803908, E-mail: [email protected]
Received: October 20, 2017, Accepted: December 20, 2017, Published: December 22, 2017

This open-access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (CC BY-NC) (http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits reuse, distribution and reproduction of the article, provided that the original work is
properly cited and the reuse is restricted to noncommercial purposes. For commercial reuse, contact [email protected]

Journal of Environmental Microbiology Vol.1 No.1 December 2017 2

 Application of Microorganisms in Bioremediation-Review

Environmental factors Moisture content

The metabolic characteristics of the microorganisms and physicochemical Microorganisms require adequate water to accomplish their growth. The
properties of the targeted contaminants determine possible interaction soil moisture content has adverse effect in biodegradation agents.
during the process. The actual successful interaction between the two;
however, depends on the environmental conditions of the site of the PH
interaction. Microorganism growth and activity are affected by pH,
temperature, moisture, soil structure, solubility in water, nutrients, site PH of compound which is acidity, basicity and alkalinity nature of
characteristics, redox potential and oxygen content, lack of trained human compound, it has its own impact on microbial metabolic activity and also
resources in this field and Physico-chemical bioavailability of pollutants increase and decrease removal process. The measurement of pH in soil
(contaminant concentration, type, solubility, chemical structure and could indicate the potential for microbial growth [15]. Higher or lower pH
toxicity). These above listed factors are determining kinetics of values showed inferior results; metabolic processes are highly susceptible
degradation [5,7]. Biodegradation can occur under a wide-range of pH; to even slight changes in pH [16].
however, a pH of 6.5 to 8.5 is generally optimal for biodegradation in
most aquatic and terrestrial systems. Moisture influences the rate of Site characterization and selection
contaminant metabolism because it influences the kind and amount of
soluble materials that are available as well as the osmotic pressure and pH Sufficient remedial investigation work must be performed prior to
of terrestrial and aquatic systems [8]. Most environmental factors are proposing a bioremediation remedy to adequately characterize the
listed below. magnitude and extent of contamination. This work should at a minimum
encompass the following factors: fully determine the horizontal and
vertical extent of contamination, list the parameters and locations to be
Availability of nutrients
sample and the rationale for their choice, describe the methods to be used
The addition of nutrients adjusts the essential nutrient balance for for sample acquisition and analysis to be performed.
microbial growth and reproduction as well as having impact on the
biodegradation rate and effectiveness. Nutrient balancing especially the Metal ions
supply of essential nutrients such as N and P can improve the
biodegradation efficiency by optimizing the bacterial C: N: P ratio. To Metals are important in small amount for bacteria and fungus, but in high
survive and continue their microbial activities microorganisms need a quantity inhibit the metabolic activity of the cells. Metal compounds have
number of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous. In small direct and indirect impact on rate of degradation.
concentrations the extent of hydrocarbon degradation also limits. The
addition of an appropriate quantity of nutrients is a favourable strategy for Toxic compounds
increasing the metabolic activity of microorganisms and thus the
biodegradation rate in cold environments [9,10]. Biodegradation in When in high concentrations of toxic nature of some contaminants can
aquatic environment is limited by the availability of nutrients [11]. Similar create toxic effects to microorganisms and slow down decontamination.
to the nutritional needs of other organisms, oil-eating microbes also The degree and mechanisms of toxicity vary with specific toxicants, their
require nutrients for optimal growth and development. These nutrients are concentration, and the exposed microorganisms. Some organic and
available in the natural environment but occur in low quantities [12]. inorganic compounds are toxic to targeted life forms [5].

Temperature Principle of bioremediation

Among the physical factors temperature is the most important one to Bioremediation is defined as the process whereby organic wastes are
determining the survival of microorganisms and composition of the biologically degraded under controlled conditions to an innocuous state,
hydrocarbons [13]. In cold environments such as the Arctic, oil or to levels below concentration limits established by regulatory
degradation via natural processes is very slow and puts the microbes under authorities. Microorganisms are suited to the task of contaminant
more pressure to clean up the spilled petroleum. The sub-zero temperature destruction because they possess enzymes that allow them to use
of water in this region causes the transport channels within the microbial environmental contaminants as a food. The aim of bioremediation is
cells to shut down or may even freeze the entire cytoplasm, thus, encouraging them to work by supplying optimum levels of nutrients and
rendering most oleophilic microbes metabolically inactive [12,14]. other chemicals essential for their metabolism in order to degrade/detoxify
Biological enzymes are participated in the degradation pathway have an substances which are hazardous to environment and living things. All
optimum temperature and will not have the same metabolic turnover for metabolic reactions are mediated by enzymes. These belong to the groups
every temperature. Moreover, the degradation process for specific of oxidoreductases, hydrolases, lyases, transferases, isomerases and
compound needs specific temperature. Temperature also speed up or slow ligases. Many enzymes have a remarkably wide degradation capacity due
down bioremediation process because highly influence microbial to their non-specific and specific substrate affinity. For bioremediation to
physiological properties. The rate of microbial activities increases with be effective, microorganisms must enzymatically attack the pollutants and
temperature, and reaches to its maximum level at an optimum convert them to harmless products. As bioremediation can be effective
temperature. It became decline suddenly with further increase or decrease only where environmental conditions permit microbial growth and
in temperature and eventually stop after reaching a specific temperature. activity, its application often involves the manipulation of environmental
parameters to allow microbial growth and degradation to proceed at a
faster rate [17].
Concentration of oxygen
Bioremediation is occurred naturally and encouraged with in addition of
Different organisms require oxygen others also do not require oxygen
living things and fertilizers. Bioremediation technology is principally
based on their requirement facilitate the biodegradation rate in a better
based on biodegradation. It refer to complete removal of organic toxic
way. Biological degradation is carried out in aerobic and anaerobic
pollutants in to harmless or naturally occurring compounds like carbon
condition, because oxygen is a gaseous requirement for most living
dioxide, water, inorganic compounds which are safe for human, animal,
organisms. The presence of oxygen in most cases can enhance
plant and aquatic life [18]. Numerous ways and pathways have been
hydrocarbon metabolism [12].
elucidated for the biodegradation of a wide variety of organic compounds;
for instance, it is completed in the presence and absence oxygen.

Journal of Environmental Microbiology Vol.1 No.1 December 2017 3

Abatenh et al

The advantage of bioremediation • Nonintrusive, potentially allowing for continued site use.
• Relative ease of implementation [17].
• It is a natural process, it takes a little time, as an acceptable waste
• Effective way of remediating natural ecosystem from a number of
treatment process for contaminated material such as soil. Microbes
contaminant and act as environment friendly options [22].
able to degrade the contaminant and increase in numbers when the
contaminant is present. When the contaminant is degraded, the
biodegradative population become declines. The residues for the The disadvantage of bioremediation
treatment are usually harmless product including water carbon dioxide
• It is limited to those compounds that are biodegradable. Not all
and cell biomass.
compounds are susceptible to rapid and complete degradation.
• It requires a very less effort and can often be carried out on site, often
• There are some concerns that the products of biodegradation may be
without causing a major disruption of normal activities. This also
more persistent or toxic than the parent compound.
eliminates the need to transport quantities of waste off site and the
potential threats to human health and the environment that can arise • Biological processes are often highly specific. Important site factors
during transportation. required for success include the presence of metabolically capable
microbial populations, suitable environmental growth conditions, and
• It is applied in a cost effective process as it lost less than the other
appropriate levels of nutrients and contaminants.
conventional methods (technologies) that are used for clean-up of
hazardous waste. Important method for the treatment of oil- • It is difficult to extrapolate from bench and pilot-scale studies to full-
contaminated sites [19]. scale field operations.
• It also helps in complete destruction of the pollutants, many of the • Research is needed to develop and engineer bioremediation
hazardous compounds can be transformed to harmless products, and technologies that are appropriate for sites with complex mixtures of
this feature also eliminates the chance of future liability associated contaminants that are not evenly dispersed in the environment.
with treatment and disposal of contaminated material. Contaminants may be present as solids, liquids and gases.
• It does not use any dangerous chemicals. Nutrients especially • It often takes longer than other treatment options, such as excavation
fertilizers added to make active and fast microbial growth. and removal of soil or incineration.
Commonly, used on lawns and gardens. Because of bioremediation • Regulatory uncertainty remains regarding acceptable performance
change harmful chemicals into water and harmless gases, the harmful criteria for bioremediation. There is no accepted definition of “clean”,
chemicals are completely destroyed [20]. evaluating performance of bioremediation is difficult.
• Simple, less labor intensive and cheap due to their natural role in the • Requires very skilled human power (Tables 1-5) [17].
environment.
• Eco-friendly and sustainable [21]. MICROORGANISMS AND POLLUTANTS
• Contaminants are destroyed, not simply transferred to different
environmental media.

Table 1: Microorganisms and Hydrocarbon (organic compound) interaction.

Microorganisms Compound Reference

Monocyclic aromatic hydro carbons, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and

Penicillium chrysogenum xylene ,phenol compounds [23,24]

P. alcaligenes, P. mendocina and P. putida, P. veronii,

Achromobacter, Flavobacterium, Acinetobacter Petrol and diesel polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons toluene [25,26]

Pseudomonas putida Monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, e. g. benzene and xylene. [25,27]

Phanerochaete chrysosporium Biphenyl and triphenylmethane [28]

A. niger, A. fumigatus, F. solani and P. funiculosum Hydrocarbon [29]

Coprinellus radians PAHs, methylnaphthalenes, and dibenzofurans [30]

Alcaligenes odorans, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium propinquum,

Pseudomonas aeruginosa phenol [22]

Tyromyces palustris, Gloeophyllum trabeum, Trametes versicolor hydrocarbons [31]

Candida viswanathii Phenanthrene, benzopyrene [32]

cyanobacteria, green algae and diatoms and Bacillus licheniformis naphtalene [33,34]

Acinetobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., Ralstonia sp. and

Microbacterium sp, aromatic hydrocarbons [35]

striatum Pyrene, anthracene, 9- metil anthracene, Dibenzothiophene Lignin

Gleophyllum striatum peroxidasse [36]

Table 2: Groups of microorganisms important for oil bioremediation.

Microorganisms Compound Reference

Fusarium sp. oil [37]

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 Application of Microorganisms in Bioremediation-Review

Alcaligenes odorans, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium propinquum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa oil [22]

Bacillus cereus A diesel oil [38]

Aspergillus niger, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei and Saccharomyces cerevisiae crude oil [39]

B. brevis, P. aeruginosa KH6, B. licheniformis and B. sphaericus crude oil [40]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. putida, Arthobacter sp and Bacillus sp diesel oil [41]

Pseudomonas cepacia, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus coagulans, Citrobacter koseri and Serratia ficaria diesel oil, crude oil [42]

Table 3: Representative examples of most dominate microorganisms in the involvement of dyes bioremadation.

Microorganisms Compound Reference

B. subtilis strain NAP1, NAP2, NAP4 oil-based based paints [43]

Myrothecium roridum IM 6482 industrial dyes [44- 46]

Pycnoporus sanguineous, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes trogii industrial dyes [47]

Penicillium ochrochloron industrial dyes [48]

Micrococcus luteus, Listeria denitrificans and Nocardia atlantica Textile Azo Dyes [49]

Textile Dye (Remazol Black B), Sulfonated di-azo dye

Bacillus spp. ETL-2012, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus pumilus HKG212 Reactive Red HE8B, RNB dye [50- 52]

Exiguobacterium indicum, Exiguobacterium aurantiacums, Bacillus cereus and

Acinetobacter baumanii azo dyes effluents [88]

Bacillus firmus, Bacillus macerans, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella oxytoca vat dyes, Textile effluents [53]

Table 4: Microorganisms serve for utilizing heavy metals.

Microorganisms Compound Reference

Heavy metals, lead, mercury and

Saccharomyces cerevisiae [55- 57]
nickel

Cunninghamella elegans Heavy metals [58]

Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Fe2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Mn2+ and Cu2+ [59]

Lysinibacillus sphaericus CBAM5 cobalt, copper, chromium and lead [60]

Microbacterium profundi strain Shh49T Fe [61]

Aspergillus versicolor, A. fumigatus, Paecilomyces sp., Paecilomyces sp., Terichoderma sp.,

cadmium [62]
Microsporum sp., Cladosporium sp.

Geobacter spp. Fe (III), U (VI) [63]

Bacillus safensis (JX126862) strain (PB-5 and RSA-4) Cadmium [64]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas sp. U, Cu, Ni, Cr [65]

Aerococcus sp., Rhodopseudomonas palustris Pb, Cr, Cd [66,67]

Heavy metals cannot be destroyed biologically (“no degradation”, changes occur in the nuclear structure of the element), but only transformed from one oxidation state or
organic complex to another. Besides, bacteria are also efficient in heavy metals bioremediation. Microorganisms have developed the capabilities to protect themselves
from heavy metal toxicity by various mechanisms, such as adsorption, uptake, methylation, oxidation and reduction. Microorganism’s uptake heavy metals actively
(bioaccumulation) and/or passively (adsorption). Microbial methylation plays an important role in heavy metals bioremediation, because methylated compounds are
frequently volatile. For example, Mercury, Hg (II) can be biomethylated by a number of different bacterial species Alcaligenes faecalis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus sp., P.
aeruginosa and Brevibacterium iodinium to gaseous methyl mercury [54].

Table 5: Potential biological agents for pesticides.

Microorganisms Compound Reference

Bacillus, Staphylococcus Endosulfan [68]

Enterobacter Chlorpyrifos [69]

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Abatenh et al

Pseudomonas putida, Acinetobacter sp., Arthrobacter sp. Ridomil MZ 68 MG, Fitoraz WP 76, Decis 2.5 EC, malation [70,71]

Acenetobactor sp., Pseudomonas sp., Enterobacter sp. and Photobacterium

sp. chlorpyrifos and methyl parathion [72]

TYPES OF BIOREMEDIATION Bioaugmentation is the process of adding engineered microbes in a system

which act as abioremediators in order to quickly and totally eliminate
There are different types of treatment technologies or techniques under
complex pollutants. Moreover, genetically modified microorganisms
bioremediation processes. The basic bioremediation methods are: Bio-
showing and proving that can increase the degradative efficiency of a
stimulation, attenuation, augmentation, venting and piles
wide range of environmental pollutant. Because of having diverse
metabolic profile to change into less complex and harmless end products
Bio stimulation [76-78]. Natural species are not fast enough to break down certain
compounds so to facilitate must be genetically modified through DNA
This kind of strategic is linked through the injection of specific nutrients
manipulation; genetically engineered microbes act as break down
at the site (soil/ground water) to stimulate the activity of indigenous
pollutants much faster than the natural species and highly compete with
microorganisms. It is focus with in the stimulation of indigenous or
the indigenous species, predators and also various abiotic factors.
naturally existing bacteria and fungus community. Firstly, by supplying
Genetically engineered microorganisms have shown potential for
fertilizers, growth supplements and trace minerals. Secondly, by providing
bioremediation of soil, groundwater and activated sludge, exhibiting the
other environmental requirements like pH, temperature and oxygen to
enhanced degrading capabilities of a broad coverage of chemical and
speed up their metabolism rate and pathway [7,17]. The Presence of small
physical pollutants [79,80].
amount of pollutant can also act as stimulant by turning on the operons for
bioremediation enzymes. This type of strategic path is most of the time
continued in the addition of nutrients and oxygen to help indigenous GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MICROORGANISMS (GEMS)
microorganisms. These nutrients are the basic building blocks of life and Genetically engineered microorganism is a microorganism whose genetic
allow microbes to create the basic requirement for example, energy, cell material has been already changed by applying genetic engineering
biomass and enzymes to degrade the pollutant. All of them will need techniques inspired by natural otherwise artificial genetic exchange
nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon [5]. between microorganisms. These kind of artistic work and a scientific
procedure is mainly termed as recombinant DNA technology. Genetic
Bio attenuation [Natural attenuation] engineering has been improved the utilization and elimination of
hazardous unwanted wastes under laboratory conditions by creating
Bioattenuation or natural attenuation is the eradication of pollutant genetically modified organisms [81]. Recombinant living organisms able
concentrations from surrounding. It is carried out with in biological to obtained by recombinant DNA techniques or by natural genetic
processes it maybe include (aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation, plant material exchange between organisms. Currently able to insert the
and animal uptake), physical phenomena (advection, dispersion, dilution, appropriate gene for the production of particular enzyme which can
diffusion, volatilization, sorption/desorption), and chemical reactions (ion degrade various pollutants [82].
exchange, complexation, abiotic transformation). Terms such as intrinsic
remediation or biotransformation are included within the more general Genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) have shown potential for
natural attenuation definition [73]. bioremediation applications in soil, groundwater, and activated sludge
environments, exhibiting enhanced degradative capabilities encompassing
When the environment is polluted with chemicals, nature can work in four a wide range of chemical contaminants. Recently, a number of
ways to clean up [74]: 1) Tiny bugs or microbes that live in soil and opportunities forward for improving degradative performance using
groundwater use some chemicals for food. When they completely digest genetic engineering strategies. For example, rate-limiting steps in known
the chemicals, they can change them into water and harmless gases. 2) metabolic pathways can be genetically manipulated to yield increased
Chemicals can stick or sorb to soil, which holds them in place. This does degradation rates, or completely new metabolic pathways can be
not clean up the chemicals, but it can keep them from polluting incorporated into bacterial strains for the degradation of previously
groundwater and leaving the site. 3) As pollution moves through soil and recalcitrant compounds. In GEMs four activities/strategies to be done
groundwater, it can mix with clean water. This reduces or dilutes the these are: (1) modification of enzyme specificity and affinity, (2) pathway
pollution. 4) Some chemicals, like oil and solvents, can evaporate, which construction and regulation, (3) bioprocess development, monitoring, and
means they change from liquids to gases within the soil. If these gases control, (4) bioaffinity bioreporter sensor applications for chemical
escape to the air at the ground surface, sunlight may destroy them. If the sensing, toxicity reduction, and end point analysis. Essential genes of
natural attenuation is not quick enough or complete enough, bacteria are carried on a single chromosome but genes specifying enzymes
bioremediation will be enhanced either by biostimulation or required for the catabolism of some of these unusual substrates may be
bioaugmentation. carried on plasmids. Plasmids have been implicated in the catabolism.
Therefore, GEMs can be used effectively for biodegradation purpose and
Bio augmentation leads to represent/indicate a research frontier with broad implications in
the future time [83].
It is one of the mechanism of biodegradation. The addition of pollutant
degrading microorganisms (natural/exotic/ engineered) to augment the
biodegradative capacity of indigenous microbial populations on the Advantage of GEMs in bioremediation
contaminated area this processes known as bioaugmentation. In order to The major function is speed up the recovery of waste polluted sites,
rapidly increasing the natural microorganism population growth and increase substrate degradation, displays a high catalytic or utilization
enhance degradation that preferentially feed on the contaminants site. capacity with a small amount of cell mass, crate safe and purified
Microbes are collected from the remediation site, separately cultured, environmental conditions by decontamination or neutralizing any harmful
genetically modified and returned to the site. For convince, all essential substances.
microorganisms are found in there sites where soil and groundwater are
contaminated with chlorinated ethenes, such as in tetrachloroethylene and
trichloroethylene. It is used to ensure that the in situ microorganisms can Disadvantage of GEMs in bioremediation
totally remove and alter these contaminants to ethylene and chloride, The major drawbacks are never carried out in traditional procedure, in
which are non-toxic [75]. some case the death of cells are happened, having challenge associated

6 Journal of Environmental Microbiology Vol.1 No.1 December 2017

 Application of Microorganisms in Bioremediation-Review

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The authors have not declared any conflict of interest.
20. Sharma S. Bioremediation: Features, Strategies and applications.
Asian Journal of Pharmacy and Life Science. 2012;2(2): 202-13.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
21. Dell’Anno A, Beolchini F, Rocchetti L, et al. High bacterial
I would like to thank Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute and my colleague to biodiversity increases degradation performance of hydrocarbons
provide support and opportunity to work this review. during bioremediation of contaminated harbor marine sediments.
Environ Pollut. 2012;167:85-92.
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