Fungi as Agents of Hydrocarbon Biodegradation: A Review
Hydrocarbon Biodegradation By Fungi
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/bioprocessing.v5n1.68Keywords:
Fungi, Biodegradation, Hydrocarbons, Engine oil, PollutionAbstract
Despite the widespread reliance of petroleum-derived products in various industries, there is a significant environmental pollution issue arising from the improper disposal of oil products into the ecosystem. The toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) lead to threatening effects when they are introduced into the soil and aquatic ecosystems. As these hydrocarbon compounds resist natural degradation processes and will accumulate in biological systems, hence a sustainable and cost-effective solution needs to be approached. Recently, microbial bioremediation has gained recognition as an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional remediation techniques such as incineration, excavation and chemical oxidation, which are often costly and ecologically disruptive. Microorganisms, particularly bacteria and fungi, have proven their degradation capability through their metabolic capacity to degrade PHs and PAHs into less harmful compounds. However, bacterial degradation systems are well explored, while fungal degradation remains underexplored in bioremediation research and field practice. This review discussed the fungi which are capable of degrading hydrocarbons related pollutants and recent research carried out related to the oil degradation fungi.
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