Reviewing bioremediation technologies for micropollutant mitigation

Micropollutants are a category of water pollutants, encompassing pharmaceuticals and personal care product compounds. Currently, physicochemical methods are commonly used for remediation. Alternatively, bioremediation offers a microbial solution to eliminate or reduce environmental contaminants by consuming them for energy. This method uses microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and algae to transform micropollutants into less toxic forms. In addition, microbial consortia have shown greater efficiency in removing micropollutants. This review explores micropollutants in aquatic systems, their types and sources, and physicochemical degradation methods and their limitations. It delves into the promise of bioremediation, focusing on its implementation mechanisms and applications.