ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY: BIOREMEDIATION STRATEGIES FOR POLLUTION CONTROL AND SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

Environmental pollution poses one of the most pressing threats to ecosystem integrity, public health, and sustainable development worldwide. Conventional remediation methods, though effective in certain contexts, often result in secondary pollution, high operational costs, and limited long-term efficacy. As a sustainable alternative, environmental biotechnology—specifically bioremediation utilizes biological agents such as microorganisms, plants, and enzymes to degrade, transform, or immobilize contaminants in soil, water, and air.This study examines the application of three major bioremediation strategies: microbial degradation, phytoremediation, and enzyme-assisted pollutant breakdown. A combination of comparative analysis and simulated environmental conditions was used to evaluate the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and ecological safety of these approaches. The methodology integrated biological kinetics, contaminant degradation models, and environmental performance assessments to identify the optimal remediation pathways.The results demonstrated that microbial bioremediation achieved the highest pollutant reduction rates, particularly for petroleum hydrocarbons and organic solvents. Phytoremediation showed significant heavy metal uptake, while enzyme-based systems facilitated rapid degradation of pesticides and persistent organic compounds. Combined bio-treatment approaches provided enhanced outcomes under multi-contaminant conditions.This research highlights the potential of bioremediation as a core strategy for pollution control, especially in scenarios requiring sustainable, low-impact interventions. While current limitations include slower degradation for recalcitrant pollutants and variable performance under fluctuating environmental conditions, advancements in genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and real-time monitoring are paving the way for more efficient and targeted bioremediation systems. The study concludes that integrating biological remediation techniques into mainstream environmental management can play a critical role in achieving global sustainability and ecological restoration goals..