Two recent papers by EBIC and EBNet’s Prof Frederic Coulon and colleagues look at different aspects of bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils.
The first carries out an extensive review of the challenges associated with field-scale bioaugmentation and bioremediation techniques, covering key factors that affect microbial survival and the practicalities of application – including the role of biochar and other amendments in immobilising hydrocarbons from petroleum pollution. It also notes the value of using consortia of micro-organisms, rather than a single species: a recurring topic in several EBNet themes.
The second paper focuses on the potential of mycoremediation as an effective alternative for decontamination of deeply-polluted environments, using on the example of the Niger delta. It describes the morphological and metabolic advantages of fungi over bacteria, and the mechanisms of fungal action: biosorption of pollutants enhanced by extracellular enzymatic degradation.
Prof Coulon’s interest in hydrocarbon pollution generally and within in the delta region goes back more than 10 years. EBNet has also indirectly supported this, through a 2020 POC project on Bio-engineering of biochar for enhanced remediation of contaminated land led by Prof Tony Gutierrez which generated information for MSc projects at Cranfield. Although support from the NIBBs is officially targeted at PhD level and above, it’s another great example of how useful this funding is beyond its immediate scientific outcomes and beneficiaries.
Challenges with bioaugmentation and field-scale application of bioremediation processes for petroleum-contaminated sites: a review. Koolivand, A., Coulon, F., Ball, A.S., Ismail, N.I., Khudur, L.S., ParsiMehr, M., Gao, G. and Godini, K., 2026. Indian Journal of Microbiology, 66(3), pp.479-495.
Mycelial frontiers: harnessing fungal morphological superiority and enzymatic versatility for deep-soil crude oil restoration in the Niger Delta. Shuaib, M.E., Thakur, A., Parra-Saldivar, R., Coulon, F. and Medina, A., 2026. Frontiers in Microbiology, 17, p.1809066.
