Application of biotechnology to accelerate the biodegradation of persistent organic pollutants in oil waste

Industrial University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia

¹ Corresponding author: ya.irina0607@yandex.ru

Abstract

Biotechnological methods for cleaning oil waste are increasingly relevant due to the difficulty of removing persistent organic compounds that cause serious environmental harm. Oil waste is heavily contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phenolic compounds, which exhibit high toxicity to ecosystems and living organisms. The study aims to develop and assess modern biotechnologies that accelerate biodegradation of these pollutants to decrease their concentration and harmful impact. The research involved sampling and preparation of oil waste, using bacterial cultures and enzymatic systems (laccases, peroxidases, oxidases), and conducting experiments in bioreactors under controlled temperature, pH, aeration, and nutrient supply. The results showed an 80–85% increase in degradation rates of target compounds after several weeks of biotechnological treatment compared to natural processes. Combined biostimulation and bioaugmentation approaches significantly enhanced efficiency and shortened treatment duration. Ecotoxicological tests confirmed a marked reduction of environmental risk post-treatment. The discussion highlights that the success of these methods lies in the metabolic versatility of microorganisms and the specificity of enzymatic degradation pathways. It emphasizes the necessity of adapting such technologies to various waste compositions for optimal performance. The study concludes that biotechnological cleaning, based on specialized microbial communities and enzyme systems, provides an effective and ecologically sustainable strategy for the rapid decomposition of persistent organic pollutants in oil waste, considerably lowering both concentration and toxicity.