ABSTRACT
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic pollutants found in air, water, and sediments. They exert toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects on living beings; therefore, their remediation is a priority issue. PAHs released to the environment are removed via volatilization, photooxidation, chemical oxidation, adsorption to soil particles, and leaching; the main removal processes probably being the transformation and degradation of PAHs by microorganisms. This chapter provides an overview of several strategies for bioremediation of PAHs that have been applied based on the benefits of the microbial biomass immobilization. General concepts about some microbial immobilization processes are explained, and different case studies concerning microbial immobilization systems used for hydrocarbon decontamination in waters and soils are reviewed.
