BIOREMEDIATION OF HYDROCARBON – A REVIEW.

Hydrocarbons are compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbon pollution has far reaching implications for both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem as well as in the atmosphere. It has been a problem ever since the use of fossil fuels began. The unprecedented increase of populations and also industrial development in both developing and developed countries during the last century have increased the threat of rampant pollution in the environment. Oil spills in oceans, leakages in pipelines carrying crude oil and gas exploration activities, production, refining, transport and storage of hydrocarbons like petroleum and its by-products also contribute to the pollution. These together are threatening the lives of animals and native microbiological population in land, air and water surfaces and sub-surfaces. The process of bioremediation by microorganisms those that break down hydrocarbons can be used to purge the environment of these persistent pollutant particles. Not only microorganisms but plants too help in bioremediation (phytoremediation).This paper focuses on an updated review on bioremediation of hydrocarbon pollution by various techniques.