Research progress in the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by co-cultured microorganisms

Abstract:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely distributed in the environment and have ecological and environmental toxicological effects. Therefore, the treatment and remediation of PAH-contaminated sites have attracted much attention. Microbial degradation, as one of the remediation methods for PAH pollution, has the advantages of low cost, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness. The co-cultured microbial system usually has better degradation effect, stronger adaptability, and greater resistance to stress than single strains. This paper reviews the microbial species and mechanisms of co-cultured microorganisms for degrading PAHs and points out the strategies for constructing co-culture systems and different microbial combinations, hoping to provide reference for the application of co-cultured microbial flora in the remediation of organically polluted environments.