ADVANCES IN MICROBIAL BIOREMEDIATION OF HYDROCARBON-CONTAMINATED SOILS USING COMPOST-DERIVED BACTERIA AND FUNGI: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Pervasive contamination of soil by petroleum hydrocarbons poses a serious threat to ecosystems and human health. Traditional physicochemical remediation methods are often costly and disruptive, prompting growing interest in bioremediation the use of microorganisms to degrade environmental pollutants, as a more sustainable alternative. This review explored the potential of bacteria and fungi derived from organic manure compost for the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. To achieve this, a systematic literature review was conducted using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, focusing on studies published within the last two decades. Search terms combined “bioremediation,” “hydrocarbon,” “compost,” and relevant microbial taxa. Selected articles were thematically analyzed across contamination scope, compost microbiology, degradation mechanisms, application strategies, and influencing factors. Organic manure compost is a rich source of diverse, pre-adapted, and metabolically versatile microbial consortia, including hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Rhodococcus, and ligninolytic fungi such as Phanerochaete and Pleurotus. Mechanisms of hydrocarbon degradation both aerobic and anaerobic are discussed, with emphasis on key enzyme systems such as oxygenases, laccases, and biosurfactant production that enhance hydrocarbon bioavailability. Compost serves not only as a microbial inoculum but also as a bulking agent, nutrient source, and habitat modulator. Despite current challenges in large-scale deployment, compost-based bioremediation emerges as a promising, low-cost, and ecologically sound strategy for restoring hydrocarbon-polluted soils.