title: Bioremediation of PAHs and VOCs: Advances in clay mineral-microbial interaction.
abstract: Bioremediation is an effective strategy for cleaning up organic contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Advanced bioremediation implies that biotic agents are more efficient in degrading the contaminants completely. Bioremediation by microbial degradation is often employed and to make this process efficient, natural and cost-effective materials can serve as supportive matrices. Clay/modified clay minerals are effective adsorbents of PAHs/VOCs, and readily available substrate and habitat for microorganisms in the natural soil and sediment. However, the mechanism underpinning clay-mediated biodegradation of organic compounds is often unclear, and this requires critical investigation. This review describes the role of clay/modified clay minerals in hydrocarbon bioremediation through interaction with microbial agents in specific scenarios. The vision is on a faster, more efficient and cost-effective bioremediation technique using clay-based products. This review also proposes future research directions in the field of clay modulated microbial degradation of hydrocarbons.
authors.affiliation: Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, SA 5095, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, ATC Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Bhabananda.Biswas@mymail.unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Bhabananda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, SA 5095, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, ATC Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Binoy.Sarkar@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Binoy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, SA 5095, Australia; Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Pilah 72000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ruhaida
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rusmin
authors.affiliation: Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, SA 5095, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, ATC Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, ATC Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Ravi.Naidu@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naidu
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D000077215:Clay; D017753:Ecosystem; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil / Q000592:standards; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D000077215:Clay
keywords: Biodegradation; Clay and modified clay minerals; Clay-microbial interaction; PAHs and VOCs