Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.3390/microorganisms13010155
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Benefits of immobilized bacteria in bioremediation of sites contaminated with toxic organic compounds
Author Armanu, G.E.; Bertoldi, S. ORCID logo ; Chrzanowski, Ł.; Volf, I.; Heipieper, H.J. ORCID logo ; Eberlein, C. ORCID logo
Source Titel Microorganisms
Year 2025
Department MEB
Volume 13
Issue 1
Page From art. 155
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Keywords BTEX; contaminants of emerging concern; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; nano-pollutants; microbial immobilization; support materials; microcolonies; solvent tolerance; biodegradation
Abstract Although bioremediation is considered the most environmentally friendly and sustainable technique for remediating contaminated soil and water, it is most effective when combined with physicochemical methods, which allow for the preliminary removal of large quantities of pollutants. This allows microorganisms to efficiently eliminate the remaining contaminants. In addition to requiring the necessary genes and degradation pathways for specific substrates, as well as tolerance to adverse environmental conditions, microorganisms may perform below expectations. One typical reason for this is the high toxicity of xenobiotics present in large concentrations, stemming from the vulnerability of bacteria introduced to a contaminated site. This is especially true for planktonic bacteria, whereas bacteria within biofilms or microcolonies have significant advantages over their planktonic counterparts. A physical matrix is essential for the formation, maintenance, and survival of bacterial biofilms. By providing such a matrix for bacterial immobilization, the formation of biofilms can be facilitated and accelerated. Therefore, bioremediation combined with bacterial immobilization offers a comprehensive solution for environmental cleanup by harnessing the specialized metabolic activities of microorganisms while ensuring their retention and efficacy at target sites. In many cases, such bioremediation can also eliminate the need for physicochemical methods that are otherwise required to initially reduce contaminant concentrations. Then, it will be possible to use microorganisms for the remediation of higher concentrations of xenobiotics, significantly reducing costs while maintaining a rapid rate of remediation processes. This review explores the benefits of bacterial immobilization, highlighting materials and processes for developing an optimal immobilization matrix. It focuses on the following four key areas: (i) the types of organic pollutants impacting environmental and human health, (ii) the bacterial strains used in bioremediation processes, (iii) the types and benefits of immobilization, and (iv) the immobilization of bacterial cells on various carriers for targeted pollutant degradation.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=30279
Armanu, G.E., Bertoldi, S., Chrzanowski, Ł., Volf, I., Heipieper, H.J., Eberlein, C. (2025):
Benefits of immobilized bacteria in bioremediation of sites contaminated with toxic organic compounds
Microorganisms 13 (1), art. 155 10.3390/microorganisms13010155