Abstract

Crude oil contamination in soils, freshwater, seawater and sediments may occur during petroleum extraction, transport and processing. Ecosystems are negatively impacted by hydrocarbon pollution. Bioremediation represents an environmentally sustainable and cost effective technology, improving microbial degradation of organic pollutants. Bioremediation strategies can be applied in situ or ex situ. A successful bioremediation process typically requires the application of distinct strategies for a specific contaminated site. Bioaugmentation and biostimulation represent two main bioremediation strategies for the clean-up of contaminated matrices. Bacteria and fungi are involved in hydrocarbon degradation and may accelerate bioremediation processes. Microbial transformation of hydrocarbon compounds to harmless molecules has been characterized under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Novel strategies to improve bioremediation technologies have been successfully applied in recent years, broadening their applications.