Application of Marine Bacteria in Environmental Remediation

Abstract

The marine ecosystem plays a pivotal role in the geochemical cycle. However, since the Industrial Revolution, the problem of marine pollution has become increasingly severe. Pollutants such as heavy metals, plastic waste, and petroleum hydrocarbons have accumulated in large quantities in the ocean. Marine microbacteria possess great potential in the field of environmental remediation due to their unique living environment and the existence of numerous populations that have yet to be discovered by humans. This paper provides a detailed examination of the applications of marine bacteria in the remediation of heavy metal, plastic, and petroleum hydrocarbon pollution. It lists numerous existing research cases and introduces some research achievements related to the identification and isolation of target bacteria. At the same time, it highlights some technical obstacles in current research. For example, marine bacteria are difficult to culture, which makes it impossible to explore their action mechanisms thoroughly. Additionally, when using microbial agents for environmental remediation, it is challenging to determine the most effective methods for minimizing adverse impacts while achieving the desired remediation effect. Therefore, in the process of transforming marine bacteria into a powerful means of bioremediation, it is still necessary to seek breakthroughs by leveraging cutting-edge biological technologies.