Aerobic biodegradation of BTEX: Progresses and Prospects

Monoaromatic pollutants such as benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes are the most commonly cited environmental contaminants in recent years and have attracted the attention of numerous researchers as well as environmental agencies. Recently, considerable amount of research has been devoted to the development of effective and reliable approaches for the containment of these toxic substances. Biotechnology has proven to be a cost-effective and highly efficient method to remove petroleum and petroleum related pollutants such as BTEX. This article offers a comprehensive review of old and recent literature dealing with the aerobic biodegradation of BTEX. Special attention is given to the conditions that influence the overall degradation efficiency and a discussion on recent research development such as innovative approaches, reactors and microorganisms. In addition, important aspects of BTEX biodegradation such as kinetics, mechanisms and mathematical modeling are discussed in detail to develop a better understanding of BTEX as an environmental challenge and compare the available options for tackling such a challenge.