Bioremediation of PAH-Contaminated Soil by Fungi

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are by-products of the incomplete combustion of organic materials. They are considered to be priority pollutants in the environment due to their recalcitrance and mutagenic properties. The principal PAH loss process from soil is through microbial degradation; therefore, the bioremediation is considered as an efficient, financially affordable, and adaptable alternative for the recuperation of PAH-contaminated soil. Several microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi, are capable of degrading different types of PAHs. The ability of the fungi to degrade the high-molecular-weight PAHs, together with their physiological versatility, converts the fungal remediation in a promising technique for the cleanup of PAH-contaminated soil. This chapter summarizes the recent information on the metabolic pathway of the fungal transformation of PAHs and provides a critical review of previous work about fungal bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil. Also, some of the most recently used fungal technology to enhance PAHs bioremediation processes is discussed.