Low-pH sulfate reduction in acid mine drainage treatment systems: implications for acidophilic and acid-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacteria – a systematic review - Aimae Jean B. Lunsayan; Carlito Baltazar Tabelin; Ana Laura Santos; Theerayut Phengsaart; Takahiko Arima; Tetsuo Yasutaka; Hiroshi Habe; Iván Ňancucheo; Carmen Falagán; Mark Anthony I. Jose; Mylah Villacorte-Tabelin (Biodegradation, 2026)

Influence of chloride, sulphate, phosphate, and silicate-based potassium fertilizers and rice husk biochar on cadmium fate, complexation, leaching and uptake in maize under alkaline soil conditions - Muhammad Ashar Ayub; Muhammad Zia ur Rehman; Mujahid Ali; Muhammad Younas; Hesham F. Alharby; Ali Majrashi; Amnah M. Alamri; Amal A. M. Al-ghamdi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Functional metabolite signatures reveal biochemical recovery trajectories in oil-polluted soils undergoing bioremediation - Laura N. Nwogu-Chigozie; Chioma B. Chikere; Victor Ezebuiro; Fidele Tugizimana; Musiwalo S. Mulaudzi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biodegradation of hair waste for keratinase production using Bacillus altitudinis VK-1120 and its application in enzymatic dehairing - Vijan Lal Vikash; Pradeep Srinivasan; Parthasarathy Baskaran Sujiritha; Anandasadagopan Suresh Kumar; Ponesakki Ganesan; Balaraman Madhan; Numbi Ramudu Kamini (Biodegradation, 2026)

Impact of the Fenton pretreatment on enhanced biological phosphorus removal: emphasizing variations in microbial community and metabolism - Yuting Wang; Jinmei Wen; Shuyao Wang; Xi Zhu; Jing Wu; Jing Shi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Sustainable activated carbon derived from Cyanthillium cinereum biomass for efficient adsorption of methylene blue and eosin yellow - K. Shakitha; V. N. Meena Devi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Pilot-scale thermophilic co-digestion of poultry slaughterhouse waste and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste: process stability and kinetic assessment - Lamia Kadir; Meryem Saber; Insaf Tou; Aissa Khelifi; Noureddine Yassaa (Biodegradation, 2026)

Enhanced toluene biodegradation by novel bioactive coatings applied in continuous flow bioreactors - Javier González-Martín; Raquel Lebrero; Raúl Muñoz (Biodegradation, 2026)

Microbial threats to aviation fuels: susceptibility and biostability studies - Evgeny A. Sharin; Valeriy A. Karpov; Tatiana A. Semenova; Oxana A. Matveeva; Vadym G. Krylov; Uliana A. Makhova; Andrei V. Ilin; Nikita A. Klimov; Marina M. Lobashova; Vladimir M. Kapustin; Mikhail A. Ershov (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biosurfactant–nonionic mixed micelles enhance heavy crude oil bioremediation: interfacial synergy and multilevel microbial responses - Yang Wang; Ziyue Shang; Fei Wu; Yuhua Su; Liangzhen Du; Hailiang Yin; Qiyou Liu (Biodegradation, 2026)

Functional dynamics and interactions within the bacterial community responsible for biodegradable plastic degradation during aerobic composting - Soo Yeon Lee; Subin Hwang; Ian Cho; Hyoyoung Lee; Jihun Lee; Doyoung Koo; Jae-Woo Kim; Kyung-Suk Cho (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biological and synthetic biology strategies for polystyrene degradation: mechanisms, microbial advances, and circular economy perspectives - Mehar Nazir; Asma Rehman; Ahmad H. Ibrahim; Sawsan S. Al-Rawi; Manahil Akmal; Ghazala Iram; Faiza Manzoor; Sadia Aziz; Muhammad Shehroz Zafar; Muhammad Adnan Iqbal (Biodegradation, 2026)

Humification kinetics and heavy-metal stabilization performance in a two-stage integrated composting technology - Sagar Aditya; Rohit Kumar; Ajay Kalamdhad (Biodegradation, 2026)

Enhancing sulfur-based denitrification with natural zeolite: performance under autotrophic and mixotrophic operation - Diana Yánez; Javiera Manterola; Lorna Guerrero; Felipe A. Carreño-López; César Huiliñir (Biodegradation, 2026)

Synergistic degradation of sulfamethoxazole by Enterococcus wangshanyuanii F4 and black soldier fly larvae - Jingya Yu; Qiang Xiong; Xinfu Li (Biodegradation, 2026)

Microalgae-mediated removal and biodegradation of indoor volatile organic compounds: mechanisms, performance metrics, and engineering constraints - Na Li; Can Wang; Jin Zhang; Jing Zhang; Yuanfan Zhao (Biodegradation, 2026)

Integrated nitrate bioremediation and microbial risk mitigation using Bacillus pacificus - Nitish Venkateswarlu Mogili; Dhruv Yogeshkumar Rana; Sainikesh Padmanabhuni; Venkata Sai Gundlapally; Vaibhav Singh; Munnangi Jason Harshith; Mood Narasimha Rao; Juhi Saxena (Biodegradation, 2026)

Soil biodegradation of virgin and recycled cotton and PET based fabrics: physicochemical and biological assessment - Yaşar Erayman Yüksel; Yasemin Korkmaz (Biodegradation, 2026)

Gypsum-based idol immersion waste as a novel additive for improved heavy metal immobilization during in-vessel composting of organic waste - Shubham More; Sonam Paliya; Ashootosh Mandpe (Biodegradation, 2026)

Advances in the persistent contamination and microbial degradation of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) - Fei Yu; Shan Zhang; Zhong Hu (Biodegradation, 2026)

Congo Red removal and toxicity reduction by lichen endophytic fungi: A multi-trophic evaluation - Ozlem Gulmez Aksak; Burak Güçlü; Ebru Gezgincioglu; Buket Bakan; Hatice Dane; Handan Uysal (Biodegradation, 2026)

Immobilization Agaricus bisporus laccase via covalent attachment and metal chelate interaction: removal of reactive brown-10 dye - Gulay Bayramoglu; Omur Celikbicak; Mehmet Yakup Arica (Biodegradation, 2026)

Hybrid treatment of landfill leachate using rotating biological contactors and membrane filtration - Nima Mahichi; Ghasem Najafpour-Darzi; Morteza Hosseini (Biodegradation, 2026)

The biofilm detachment modes and mechanisms in porous media - Haomin Yang; Yangyang Tang; Zheng Zhang; Jiankun Wang; Cong Tao; Xiaoling Wang (Biodegradation, 2026)

Microbial biodegradation of polypropylene microplastics: a comparative assessment of single- and dual-species models - Veena Vinod; P. S. Amritha; P. B. Harathi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Bioconversion of wheat and bean straw by thermo-alkaliphilic actinomycetes for enhanced polygalacturonase yield: statistical optimization and industrial application - Abd El-Rahman Fathy Gomaa; Mohamed H. El-Sayed; Omar Mohammad Atta; Sheng Qin; Amany A. Hassan (Biodegradation, 2026)

A review of toxicity and remediation: thorium uptake by woody plants - P. K. Manigandan (Biodegradation, 2026)

Bacteria in bioremediation of metal waste-contaminated soils across sub-saharan Africa: mechanisms, driving factors, and efficiency - Agnes Uwimbabazi; Subbaiya Ramasamy; Theodore M. Mwamba; Stephen Syampungani (Biodegradation, 2026)

Screening for potent Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degrading fungi: optimization of lipase production media and assessment of PET fabric waste degradation - Koushika Saravanan; Sudharshini Elumalai; Preethi Kathirvel (Biodegradation, 2026)

Revolutionizing the potential of laccase from Bacillus paralicheniformis as an eco-friendly solution to reduce polychlorinated dibenzofurans contamination through integrated computational approach - Muhammad Naveed; Ayesha Saleem; Tariq Aziz; Urooj Rasheed; Arooj Azeem; Maryum Rasheed; Manal F. Elkhadragy; Ashwag Shami; Hanan Abdulrahman Sagini; Rewaa S. Jalal; Hayam A. Alwabsi; Fakhria A. Al-Joufi (Biodegradation, 2026)

A nitrification bioreactor applied solely with ammonium and inorganic C maintains a highly diverse bacterial and archaeal community even after nine years - Luc Dendooven; Saúl López-Vázquez; Valentín Pérez-Hernández; Mario Hernández-Guzmán; Nina M. Montoya-Ciriaco; Marco Luna-Guido; Frederic Thalasso; Yendi E. Navarro-Noya (Biodegradation, 2026)

Next-generation biodegradation of chlorpyrifos: integrative microbial strategies, molecular mechanisms, and environmental impacts - Sushma Gautam; Jyoti Sharma; Monu Sharma; Sonu Sharma; Raman Kumar; Vivek Sheel; Parul Gautam; Ahmad Umar; Abdulrab Ahmed M. Alkhanjaf; Ahmed A. Ibrahim; Sotirios Baskoutas (Biodegradation, 2026)

Enhanced degradation mechanism of pyrene by Fe/Mn-modified biochar immobilized microorganisms under Cd(II) coexistence - Hongyang Ren; Suping Jing; Shuangli Chen; Jie Jin; Boyu Chen; Xuanbei Wu (Biodegradation, 2026)

Harnessing the power of date fruit: nutritional, bioactive, and functional roles in sustainable nutrition - Emad H. Khedr; Maryam M. Alomran (Biodegradation, 2026)

Enhancing chlorpyrifos degradation and plant growth through biochar-assisted microbial remediation - M Kiran; R Sindhu; M Supreeth (Biodegradation, 2026)

Predicting the metalloproteome of Deinococcus indicus DR1 through integrative structure and function annotation - Sweety Deena Ramesh; Giri Vasan; Shricharan Senthilkumar; Menaka Thambiraja; Deepa Sethi; Richa Priyadarshini; Ragothaman M. Yennamalli (Biodegradation, 2026)

Enhancement of biodegradation capacity of microbial consortium in non-thermal plasma post-discharge for the removal of azo dye Reactive Red 120 - Dorian Feumba-Monkam; Franck William Boyom-Tatchemo; Antoine Tamsa Arfao; Elie Acayanka; Moïse Nola; Georges Kamgang-Youbi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Vermicompost-derived biochar alleviates nickel toxicity and bioaccumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by improving soil properties and physiological functions - Syed Farhan Haider Bukhari; Zaffar Malik; Ahmad Ali; M. Nasir Khan; Ehab I. El-Hallous; Saqer S. Alotaibi; Sarah Albogami; Salman Aloufi; Mohamed Abdelaal; Anam Moosa; Faisal Zulfiqar (Biodegradation, 2026)

Performance and wastewater treatment efficiency of artificially prepared aerobic granular sludge - Xuanzhe Yan; Jinlong Wang; Kailong Liu; Hao Wu; Wei He; Yongmei Zhang; Linlin Tong; Su Li; Zhaoyang You (Biodegradation, 2026)

Integrated machine learning and design of experiments approach for optimizing malachite green adsorption onto treated peanut shell (Arachis hypogaea) with DFT insights into the adsorption mechanism - Mounir Daoud; Mohammed Aouf; Hadj Daoud Bouras; Meriam Imane Babaghayou; Pierre Girods; Yann Rogaume; Romain Chevigny; Sébastien Fontana (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biochar-enhanced two-stage rotary drum-aided vermicomposting of Parthenium hysterophorus: process performance, system optimization, and stabilization mechanisms - Sayak Chakravorty; Maddela Ezra; Mayur Shirish Jain (Biodegradation, 2026)

Endophytic and rhizospheric bacterial consortia from Peganum harmala alleviate lead phytotoxicity and enhance durum wheat growth in heavy metal-contaminated soils - Khaoula Akrout; Ahmed Dekak; Hana Souahi; Manel Allani; Khaled Nasri; Nadhem Brahim; Haroun Chenchouni (Biodegradation, 2026)

Distinct and indispensable roles of cell viability and extracellular polymeric substances in Pb mineralization by Sinorhizobium sp. C10 - Qin Gao; Yating Zhao; Duyan Jia; Dandan Zhang; Peihuan Li; Menglei Ye; Chunhua Zhang; Ying Ge (Biodegradation, 2026)

Integrative frameworks for plastic biodegradation in insect–microbiome systems: mechanistic insights, emerging multi-omics and enzyme engineering perspectives - Haritha Rajan; Suja Purushothaman Devipriya; Sarita G. Bhat (Biodegradation, 2026)

Microalgal cocultivation driven phycoremediation of Congo red: integrated biochemical profiling and LC–MS guided mechanism - Sudhamayee Parida; Amiya Kumar Mandal; Akshaya Kumar Behera; Mrutyunjay Jena (Biodegradation, 2026)

Rapid isolation of indigenous degraders combined with autochthonous bioaugmentation for in situ remediation of groundwater contaminated with complex organic pollutants: a pilot-scale study - Zefan Liu; Qianbin Pan; Yulong Fu; Jiawen Yang; Hao Leng; Chaofeng Shen (Biodegradation, 2026)

Heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification by Pseudomonas sp. HE-16: performance and mechanism for nitrogen and phosphorus removal - Yuhong Zhang; Fengyu Che; Jiaqi Xu; Jiabao Wang; Jiacheng Cai (Biodegradation, 2026)

Melatonin-mediated regulation of fruit quality and physicochemical attributes: current advances and future perspectives - Hossam S. El-Beltagi; Hongying Du; Nagwa Khedr; Mohamed S. Al Saikhan; Tarek A. Shalaby; Emad H. Khedr (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biodegradation of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/poly (lactic acid) under food waste composting: CO2 emissions and compost maturity characteristics - Jingying Shang; Ziyi Liu; Shunli Wang; Xingyuan Yang; Lili Han; Lili Wang (Biodegradation, 2026)

Sustainable activated biochar as a high-performance adsorbent/filter for effective p-nitrophenol (PNP) sequestration from wastewater - Ayman H. Mansee; Doaa M. Abdelgawad; Maher E. Saleh (Biodegradation, 2026)

In situ biotransformation of synthetic glutamate to γ-amino butyric acid by an auxotrophic Lactococcus lactis in polysorbate-mediated thermoaerobic process - Siaknder Ali; Kinza Arif; Qaiser Farid Khan; Muhammad Usman Ahmad; Ifrah Shabbir; Iram Liaqat; Tawaf Ali Shah; Gehan M. Elossaily; Yousef A. Bin Jardan (Biodegradation, 2026)

Plastic pollution and its global environmental impacts: a comprehensive review of microbial biodegradation mechanisms, plastic-degrading enzymes, emerging biotechnological strategies and artificial intelligence-driven approaches for sustainable plastic waste management - Rahel Debbarma; Bibhab Kumar Lodh; Tarun Kanti Bandyopadhyay; Swarup Biswas; Soma Nag (Biodegradation, 2026)

In vitro and in silico study of the endosulfan degradation by Bacillus subtilis sp. strain UAMC - Adriana Casanova; Sergio Hernández; Diego A. Esquivel-Hernández; Sergio Revah; Irmene Ortíz (Biodegradation, 2026)
The widespread use of endosulfan, a persistent organochlorine pesticide, has raised significant environmental and health concerns due to its toxicity and potential for bioaccumulation. This study investigated the degradation pathway of endosulfan by Bacillus subtilis sp. strain UAMC, combining in vitro and in silico approaches. These degradation assays revealed preferential degradation of α-endosulfan (97.6%) over β-endosulfan (69.45%), and identified key metabolites. The toxic endosulfan sulfate metabolite was not detected, suggesting a hydrolytic degradation mechanism. Molecular docking simulations highlighted interactions between endosulfan metabolites and enzymes such as laccase (3ZDW), which possess the necessary structural plasticity to recognize and transform endosulfan, even though they were not evolved for that specific purpose. These findings provided a mechanistic understanding of endosulfan biodegradation and underscore the potential of Bacillus subtilis sp. strain UAMC for pesticide bioremediation applications.

Co-application of biochar, vermicompost and silicon mitigates salinity stress and enhances maize productivity in saline-calcareous soils - Fahim Qasim; Moazzam Jamil; Maqshoof Ahmed; Ghulam Hassan Abbasi; Hassan Mehmood; Usman Zulfiqar; Imran Haider; Hossam S. El-Beltagi; Khalid H. Alamer; Gamal Awad El-Shaboury (Biodegradation, 2026)

Bioprospecting of waste dump site reveals degradation potential among Bacillus cereus KRS102 and Bacillus tropicus KRS236 against UV-treated polypropylene - Swati Rani; Himalaya Panwar; Kartikey Kumar Gupta (Biodegradation, 2026)

The role of green chemistry in the transformation of agro-industrial wastes for health and environment: a review - Manoj Chandra Garg; Sheetal Kumari; Minh-Ky Nguyen; Basil Osayin Daudu; Sanskriti Thapa; Juhi Gupta; Manish Kumar; Elif Esra Altuner; Akhilesh Kumar Yadav; Esther Besty Anaiye; Adel Zrelli; Kassian T. T. Amesho (Biodegradation, 2026)

Isolation and screening of silicate-solubilizing bacteria for enhanced desilicification of silica-containing agro-residues - Oinam Bidyarani Devi; Federico Cerrone; Mohit Kumar; Deepali Rani; Santosh Kumar Mishra (Biodegradation, 2026)

Enhanced spent oil bioremediation in contaminated soils using biostimulants: kinetics, half-life, and efficacy assessment - C. Nna Orji (Biodegradation, 2026)

Bioremediation of ammonia using native bacterial strains and developed synthetic consortia from aquaculture wastewater in Tuticorin, Southeast coast of India - Kannaiyan Kumaresan Shrivasanthan; Durairaj Manimekalai; Pandurangan Padmavathy; Pandi Ganesan; Muthu Ponmani; Sridhar Sakthi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Naproxen as an emerging environmental contaminant: Microbial degradation mechanism and optimization strategies - Irdeana Marsha Baharuddin; Siti Khadijah Awang; Muhammad Iqbal Mashudi; Wan Iryani Wan Ismail; Fazilah Ariffin (Biodegradation, 2026)

Evaluating the phytoremediation capacity of Verbesina encelioides through lead-induced morphological and biochemical shifts - Kiran Choudhary; Afroz Alam; Mohammad Mehdizadeh; Hussein A. H. Said-Al Ahl; Kirill Tkachenko; Wafaa M. Hikal (Biodegradation, 2026)

Degradation dynamics: an insight into microbial interactions with explosive compounds - Vandana Singh; Mohammed E. Abo-El Fetoh; Islam E. Abo-El Fetoh (Biodegradation, 2026)

Microbial desulfurization of low-grade Balochistan coal using Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus pumilus - Asif Naeem; Maqsood Ahmed; Asadullah; Jamal Khan; Zahid Naeem Qaisrani (Biodegradation, 2026)

Assessing soil microbiome alterations in agricultural land exposed to pesticides through amplicon-based sequencing - Srishti Sinha Ray; Nishu Goyal; Madhumita Bhattacharyya; Smriti Arora; Kanchan Deoli Bahukhandi; Durga Madhab Mahapatra (Biodegradation, 2026)

Isolation and MALDI–TOF MS‑based identification of new bacterial isolates from greenhouse and mulch film fields in Izmir (Turkiye) for LDPE biodegradation - Arda Yavasoglu; Huseyin Cinarli; Tuna Aras; Ziydal Zor Alpugan (Biodegradation, 2026)

Synergistic application of biochar and mercury-resistant Bacillus cereus enhances phytoremediation efficiency and stress tolerance in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) grown in mercury-contaminated soil - Ghulam Murtaza; Muhammad Usman; Zeeshan Ahmed; Rashid Iqbal (Biodegradation, 2026)

Decoding the catalytic potential of a Cycloclasticus zancles ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase through computational analysis for enhanced PAH biodegradation - Muhammad Naveed; Ahmed Raza; Ahiba Adil; Abubakar Majeed; Sana Miraj Khan; Ayaz Ali Khan; Rania Ali El Hadi Mohamed; Nawal H. Siddig; Hayam A. Alwabsi; Hanan Abdulrahman Sagini (Biodegradation, 2026)

Synergistic pretreatment: hybrid strategies for maximum lignocellulose valorization - Nikunj Mehta (Biodegradation, 2026)
Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is a vast, renewable resource critical to a circular bioeconomy, but its inherent recalcitrance remains the principal barrier to efficient enzymatic saccharification and valorization. Given the numerous existing reviews that simply catalogue individual pretreatment methods, the necessity of this review lies in its critical evaluation of how hybridizing standalone technologies is essential to overcome current pilot-scale and commercialization bottlenecks. This review provides a comparative analysis of three emerging pretreatment technologies: hydrothermal (HTP), microwave-assisted (MWP), and ball milling (BM). The author analyzes the distinct mechanisms by which each technology decreases the recalcitrance of LCB. HTP excels at hemicellulose hydrolysis via autohydrolysis but is plagued by the formation of inhibitors and pseudo-lignin. MWP employs rapid dielectric heating to achieve similar objectives within minutes, compared with the hours often required for conventional HTP, demonstrating high energy efficiency (e.g., 40.1 kJ/g compared to conventional HTP at 70.85 kJ/g), but faces fundamental commercial scale-up challenges related to finite penetration depths and hotspots. BM, a mechanochemical approach, is unparalleled in destroying cellulose crystallinity, dramatically enhancing kinetics without producing inhibitors, but it suffers from prohibitively high energy consumption, often requiring up to 2.8 kWh/kg. The author concludes that commercial viability dictates a trend toward hybrid, synergistic processes, such as BM-HTP and MW-HTP, which balance trade-offs and achieve near-theoretical glucose yields of 97.3%. Future research must focus on continuous-flow reactor engineering, integration with lignin-first valorization strategies, and predictive AI/ML modeling to enable economically competitive lignocellulosic biorefineries.

Rhamnolipid-like glycolipid biosurfactant mediated degradation of phenanthrene and fluoranthene by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its impact on soil enzyme activities - Bhrigu Bhuyan; Ankita Das; Riya Chakraborty; Piyush Pandey (Biodegradation, 2026)

Comparative performance of non-white rot fungal stirred-tank and biofilm-based bioreactors for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment: kinetic modelling and scalability potential - Ibtihal Alkarim; Nur Aliya Narzilan; Nur Syahidah Shaharuddin; Murni Halim; Mohd Shamzi Mohamed; Fadzlie Wong Faizal Wong (Biodegradation, 2026)

Green biocatalysis: Box–Behnken-optimized cellulase from thermophilic Streptomyces griseorubens NBR14 for waste management and dye removal - Abd El-Rahman Fathy Gomaa; Sheng Qin; Mohamed H. El-Sayed; Asmaa M. M. Mawad (Biodegradation, 2026)

Trichoderma harzianum enhances lettuce biomass and modulates plant-soil emerging contaminant dynamics under reclaimed wastewater irrigation - Monica Brienza; Juan Manuel Peña-Herrera; Vincenzo Trotta; Serge Chiron; Andrés Sauvêtre (Biodegradation, 2026)
The use of wastewater for irrigation in agricultural soils offers a sustainable means to reduce freshwater consumption and recycle nutrients, but also poses contamination risks associated with emerging pollutants. Furthermore, potentially toxic transformation products may form in soil and rhizosphere, and could subsequently be taken up by plants. Several products containing spores of symbiotic fungi are available and could serve as effective solutions to enhance the biodegradation of micropollutants in agricultural soils irrigated with treated wastewater. In this study, the effect of the fungus Trichoderma harzianum on the distribution of two emerging contaminants, carbamazepine and climbazole, and their main transformation products among soil and lettuce tissues was investigated under controlled conditions. Physiological effects were also investigated by quantifying phytohormones in roots and leaves. Inoculation with Trichoderma harzianum did not significantly affect the uptake of the parent compounds but increased the concentration of their transformation products in soil and reduced their levels in plant leaves after three weeks. The fungus enhanced plant biomass and altered certain phytohormones involved in defense mechanisms such as salicylic acid and microbiome recruitment in roots and soils. Findings of this study provide valuable insights that can be effectively applied to crop cultivation using reclaimed wastewater, leveraging readily available biological products for improved sustainable practices.

Impacts of arsenic contamination on plants and the role of microalgae in arsenic stress mitigation for sustainable agriculture - Rajneesh Singh; Rachana Singh (Biodegradation, 2026)

Fungal bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in terrestrial environments: a systematic review and meta-analysis - Matias Soto-Mancilla; Facundo Fioroni; Luciana Ebrecht; Mara Martin; Ma. Cecilia Mestre; Natalia V. Fernández (Biodegradation, 2026)

Modeling and optimization of methylene blue adsorption on biochar via artificial neural network (ANN) - Sousna Sahnoun; Amina Aichour; Hakim Djafer Khodja; Oussama Ounissi; Garmia Derafa; Djomana Adhimi; Norelhouda Badis; Farid Ait Merzeg (Biodegradation, 2026)

In silico evaluation of protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase for environmental detoxification of persistent organic pollutants - Muhammad Naveed; Maryum Rasheed; Maida Salah Ud Din; Minahil Zahid; Ayaz Ali Khan; Mayasar I. Al Zaban; Ashwag Shami; Hayam A. Alwabsi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biodegradation of plasticizer benzyl butyl phthalate by Paenarthrobacter sp. strain M76 in liquid culture and soil microcosms - Moumita Mondal; Sujan Gayen; Jyoti Eyasmin; Subhankar Chatterjee (Biodegradation, 2026)

Application of biosurfactants as remediation option in the bioremediation of synthetic dyes - Inès Mnif; Mouna Bouassida; Dhouha Ghribi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Green composite beads of Dunaliella sp. AL-1 and sodium alginate: an innovative biosorbent for efficient copper removal from aqueous systems - Imtinen Ghribi; Imane Haydari; Faissal Aziz; Slim Abdelkafi; Imen Fendri; Jihen Elleuch (Biodegradation, 2026)

Harnessing novel biosynthesized ZrO₂ biochar nanocomposites for reactive orange 16 dye adsorption: kinetic modeling and cytotoxicity insights - Mubashara Fayyaz; Mohamed A. Habib; Syed Kashif Ali; Saif Ullah; Muhammad Imran Kanjal; Tahreem Saleem; Rana Muhammad Zulqarnain; Ahmed B. M. Ibrahim (Biodegradation, 2026)

Role of Acacia bark biochar in the growth of Ocimum basilicum L. under cadmium stress - Ghulam Murtaza; Muhammad Usman; Zeeshan Ahmed; Rashid Iqbal; Hossam S. El-Beltagi; Mashael Daghash Alqahtani; Usman Zulfiqar (Biodegradation, 2026)

Synergistic phytohormone crosstalk enhances nickel detoxification, antioxidant defense and yield in isabgol (Plantago ovata) - Hassan Mehmood; Ghulam Murtaza; Sajad Ali; Khairiah Mubarak Alwutayd; Hanan M. Alharbi; Mohammad K. Alharbi; Javed Iqbal; Shabir Ahmad; Dilfuza Jabborova; Rashid Iqbal (Biodegradation, 2026)

Bioremediation of anthraquinone dye reactive blue 19 by halo-acido–alkaliphilic bacterial consortia - Nusrat Jahan Rubaida; Md Khaled Mosharaf; Md. Golam Shaharia Limon; Ashikur Rahman; Rifat Islam; Md. Nayeem Hossain; Taspia Jahan; Md. Amdadul Haque; Abul Hossain Molla; Md. Manjurul Haque (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biodegradation of benzalkonium chloride: effect of carbon substrate on microbial community structure and antimicrobial susceptibility - Ana Micaela Ferro Orozco; María Belén Ceretta; Edgardo Martín Contreras (Biodegradation, 2026)

Bioelectrochemical enhancement of anaerobic digestion under heavy metal stress: a comparative study of AD and AD-MEC systems - Amin Arvin; Fatemeh Rezaalizadeh; Mohammad Mehdi Amin; Morteza Hosseini; Ghasem Najafpour Darzi; Younes Ghasemi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Bio-degradational potential of genus Ochrobactrum - B. Sai Eswar; Prashant Kumar; Samriti Saklani; Ravindra Taware (Biodegradation, 2026)

Nitrogen metabolic characteristics and adaptive mechanisms of Paracoccus sp. QD-21 under complex nitrogenous environments - Yuhong Zhang; Xiruo Wang; Xianbo Dong; Jiacheng Cai; Wensong Gao (Biodegradation, 2026)

Advancements in microalgae-mediated technologies for antibiotic removal from wastewater: a review - Neha Pathania; Swati Kumari; Kamlesh Thakur; Saurabh Kulshrestha; Rohit Khargotra (Biodegradation, 2026)
The development of efficient systems for removing antibiotics from wastewater is being pushed by increase in antibiotic resistance brought on by the environmental discharge of antibiotics. Antibiotic were not completely eliminated using conventional technologies like activated sludge, constructed wetland systems and many other procedures. A viable alternative for treating wastewater through adsorption, accumulation, biodegradation, photodegradation, and hydrolysis has recently been investigated using microalgae-based technology. This review focuses on effects of antibiotics on microalgae, as well as the ways in which microalgae remove antibiotics and how they work with other technologies to do so, including photocatalysis, advanced oxidation, and complementary microorganism degradation. The physiochemical and operational parameters like pH, temperature, light intensity and many more which influence the elimination of antibiotics in the wastewater treatment system. Future research requirements, further opportunities, the limitations of the available microalgae-based technologies were also discussed.

Alginate-immobilized exopolymeric substances from bacteria for Lead (Pb) removal: biosorption and reusability studies - Adeline Su Yien Ting; Kai Hao Tiew; Keang Peng Song (Biodegradation, 2026)
In this study, exopolymeric substances (EPS) from Bacillus cereus were immobilized in alginate to form alginate-EPS beads. The surface characteristics of the alginate-EPS beads were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The mechanisms of Pb removal was determined based on equilibrium and kinetic models. Packed-bed biosorption studies using Pb solutions (750 mg L −1 concentration) evaluated their efficacy for Pb uptake and removal, under the influence of initial pH of metal solution and the size of biosorbents. The reusability of the alginate-EPS beads was also tested by examining the column regeneration, exhaustion time and sorption–desorption activities of the Pb-loaded beads. Results revealed that the alginate-EPS beads produced have uneven surface with various functional groups (hydroxyl, amide, carboxyl, phosphates) detected. Their Pb removal efficacy was highest in Pb solutions with pH 4, recording 51.52% Pb removal, followed by pH 6 (48.62%) and pH 8 (46.78%). For bead size, alginate-EPS beads measuring 3 mm diameter size was more efficient in Pb removal (51.52%), compared to 2 mm- (39.23%) and 5 mm-sized beads (28.52%). All alginate-EPS beads complied with the Langmuir isotherm (R 2 = 0.992) and pseudo-second order kinetic (R 2 = 0.995), suggesting monolayer adsorption is likely to have occurred on their homogenous surface. The alginate-EPS beads were successfully used for five adsorption cycles, with consistent Pb removal (41.40–50.59%). This study recommends the use of 3 mm bead size for Pb removal (pH 4 solutions) due to greater Pb removal (51.5%) and uptake (13.29 mg g −1 ), and reasonable exhaustion time (540 min). There is potential of applying alginate-EPS beads in packed-bed systems as a feasible and effective method for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater.

Microbial and multi-omics approaches for bioremediation of emerging contaminants: environmental impact and future engineering solutions - Zoubiya Afshan Ansar; Meera Mary Alappat; Sangeetha Subramanian; Anand Anbarasu (Biodegradation, 2026)

Microfibres versus fragments: differential impacts of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide (PA6) microplastics on anaerobic digestion efficiency and microbial ecology - Nimitha Choran; Banu Örmeci (Biodegradation, 2026)

Screening and characterisation of petroleum hydrocarbon–degrading bacteria isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil in Libya - Aysha B. Mezoughi; Aisha S. Amer; Zaineb O. Ettarhouni; Khaled M. Ibrahim; Zaynab K. Kremed; Ajaya Bhattarai (Biodegradation, 2026)

Genetically engineered organisms for sustainable bioremediation of polluted environments - Juma Ahmada Salum; Bhuvnesh Kapoor; Swati Sharma (Biodegradation, 2026)

Effects of biochar and GA3 on maize growth under defined drought and salinity stress in a pot-based factorial experiment - Xiang Ding; Tauseef Anwar; Huma Qureshi; Hossam S. El-Beltagi; Azizakhon Imirsinova; Ulugbek Mirzaev; Kabulzhan Azizov; Abduvali Iminov; Mambetnazarov Asan; Nazih Y. Rebouh; Raifə Salmanova; Ibtisam M. Alsudays; et al. (Biodegradation, 2026)

Regulating selenium nutrition-toxicity in cadmium stressed maize with date palm frond biochar - Maryam M. Alomran; Hossam S. El-Beltagi; Adel A. Rezk; Tamara Oserbaeva; Tarek A. Shalaby; Zarovshan Babayeva; Mohamed M. El-Mogy; Abdulrahman Alasmari (Biodegradation, 2026)

Harnessing bacterial power and omics technologies for sustainable plastic waste biodegradation - Ahmed R. Henawy; Salma M. Ismail; Sama Gharib; Nagwa I. Elarabi; Abdelhadi A. Abdelhadi; Asmaa A. Halema (Biodegradation, 2026)
Plastic pollution constitutes a critical environmental concern of this era, with synthetic polymers, i.e., polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and polyurethane (PU), accumulating in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems at alarming rates. One of the promising solutions to this worldwide problem is microbial plastic degradation, particularly by bacteria that can convert polymeric materials into less toxic compounds. With an emphasis on enzymatic mechanisms, critical environmental and biochemical factors influencing degradation, and the wide variety of bacteria responsible for breaking down synthetic polymers, this review focuses on the enzymatic and genetic aspects underlying bacterial plastic degradation, highlighting key enzymes such as PETase, METase, esterase, and oxidoreductase, as well as representative plastic-degrading bacteria i.e . Thermobifida, Ideonella, Bacillus, Agromyces, Pseudomonas, Schlegelella species. The significance of multi-omics tools, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and genomics was demonstrated here in deepening our understanding of microbial plastic degradation without depending on pure culture. It explores the key genes and metabolic pathways that facilitate this process. Moreover, how advanced biotechnological techniques and artificial intelligence (AI) can participate in plastic biodegradation through enzyme engineering, activity-enhancing mutation design, predictive modeling, and omics data analysis was illustrated. Furthermore, this review underscores the necessity for integrative and interdisciplinary approaches to effectively harness bacterial metabolism for long-term reduction of plastic pollution. Also, it outlines future research directions and technological priorities for translating bacterial plastic degradation into practical and sustainable remediation solutions.

Enrichment hydrocarbon‑degrading bacterial communities from the southern Gulf of Mexico in long‑term stored sediments - E. Ernestina Godoy-Lozano; Luciana Raggi; Alejandra Escobar-Zepeda; Libertad Adaya; Diego Humberto Cuervo-Amaya; Adolfo Gracia; Alejandro Sanchez-Flores; Claudia Díaz-Camino; Liliana Pardo-López (Biodegradation, 2026)
The Gulf of Mexico is chronically exposed to petroleum hydrocarbons from natural seeps and anthropogenic activities, sustaining diverse microbial communities capable of hydrocarbon degradation. To investigate natural bacterial succession associated with long-term hydrocarbon degradation, sediment samples from shallow ( 2500 m) sites in the southern Gulf of Mexico were incubated at 4 °C for up to 24 months. Temporal changes in bacterial community composition were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, and residual hydrocarbons were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Initial communities differed significantly between shallow and deep sediments but remained stable during the first six months before shifting markedly after 12 months of incubation. Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidota increased in relative abundance, whereas Deltaproteobacteria declined. Genera such as Colwellia , Alcanivorax , Shewanella , and Neptunomonas , which include well-known hydrocarbon-degrading species, displayed dynamic, time-dependent enrichment patterns. Chemical analyses revealed substantial depletion of alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, indicating sustained biodegradation activity. These results demonstrate that Gulf of Mexico sediment communities harbor metabolically resilient consortia capable of long-term hydrocarbon mineralization under low-temperature, dark conditions. The integrated microbial and geochemical data provide new insights into ecological succession and the persistence of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in deep-sea sediments, contributing to a better understanding of natural attenuation processes in petroleum-impacted marine environments.

Fe (III)-mediated enhancement of Bacillus sp. SSAU2 resilience against Hg (II) toxicity and restoration of its Cr (VI) removal efficiency in a mercury-contaminated environment - Abhijeet Sharma; Manshi Agrawal; Akanksha Singh; Shanthy Sundaram (Biodegradation, 2026)

Bacterial laccases for green remediation of contaminants of emerging concern: from molecular cloning to metagenomic and computational insights - Anjilesh Kumar; Tarun Kanti Bandyopadhyay; Deeplina Das (Biodegradation, 2026)

Modulation of arsenic uptake and detoxification in maize (Zea mays L.) by plant-based iron oxide nanoparticles - Tauseef Anwar; Huma Qureshi; Muhammad Imran; Hossam S. El-Beltagi; Salohiddinjon Yunusov; Shuqurillo Ziyadov; Muydinjon M. Muminov; Gamal Awad El-Shaboury; Dilbar Bazarbayeva; Ibtisam M. Alsudays; Khalid H. Alamer; Munisa Bekmukhamedova; et al. (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biodegradation of high-molecular-weight PAHs in polluted mangrove sediments using indigenous microflora and exogenous strains Rhodococcus erythropolis T902.1 and Bacillus subtilis - Semboung Lang Firmin; Ngo Nkot Laurette (Biodegradation, 2026)

Harnessing plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) for the rehabilitation of metal-contaminated soil - Ravinder Singh; Sandeep Kumar; Sachchidanand Tripathi; Rajkumari Sanayaima Devi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Potential accelerated biotransformation of petrochemical plastic surfaces by anaerobic digester sludge microorganisms - Apsara Muhandiram; Supun Rathnayaka; Maheshi Somasiri; Charitha Basnayaka; P. Neelamanie Yapa; Eustace Y. Fernando (Biodegradation, 2026)

Size-dependent performance and adaptive mechanisms of anammox granular sludge under fluctuating low-temperature conditions - Guang-feng Yang; Qi Luo; Neng-feng Qian; Ben-ze Chang; Ya-lei Liu; Dong-zhi Chen; Li-juan Feng (Biodegradation, 2026)

Recent advances in techniques for microplastic detection, microbial biodegradation and its genomic insights: a review - Jayshree S. Nadekar; Abhay B. Fulke (Biodegradation, 2026)

Impact of organic amendments and soil textural class on growth performance and heavy metals uptake in Canna indica - Deepika; Anshul Tyagi; Anil Kumar Haritash (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biochar-based green nickel catalyst from Persea americana seed waste: a sustainable approach to supported metal catalysis - Sewunet Abebayehu; Jabasingh S. Anuradha; Anteneh Marelign; Vimal Katiyar; Manoj Kumar Dhal; Shegaw Ahmed Mohammed (Biodegradation, 2026)

Exploring the potential of indigenous coal mine isolates Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PM55) and Enterobacter cloacae (PM56) for Cr(VI) bioremediation and plant growth promotion - Nida Zainab; Fazal ur Rehman; Amna Amna; Iftikhar Ahmad; Muhammad Farooq Hussain Munis; Hassan Javed Chaudhary (Biodegradation, 2026)

Exploring the biocatalytic potential of Amycolatopsis japonica DyP in degrading plasticizer and phenolic-derived xenobiotic compounds - Muhammad Naveed; Ayesha Saleem; Tariq Aziz; Sadia Jabeen; Sana Miraj Khan; Maida Salah Ud Din; Nantenaina Tombozara; Mayasar I. Al-zaban; Ashwag Shami; Hayam A. Alwabsi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Combined application of 5-ALA and nitric oxide improves lead detoxification and antioxidant defense in barley - Ghulam Murtaza; Muhammad Usman; Zeeshan Ahmed; Wael Elmenofy; Muhammad Aamir Manzoor; Rashid Iqbal (Biodegradation, 2026)

Metabolism of bile salts in the estrogen degrading bacterium Caenibius tardaugens - Juan Ibero; Gabriel Hernández-Fernández; José L. García; Beatriz Galán (Biodegradation, 2026)
Bile salts are conjugated steroids with digestive functions in vertebrates that reach the ecosystem upon excretion. Their environmental degradation by bacteria resembles the steroid nucleus catabolism that uses the 9,10- seco pathway, although there are two variants depending on whether the hydroxyl group at C-7 is eliminated (variant Δ 4,6 ) or not (variant Δ 1,4 ). Caenibius tardaugens , formerly known as Novosphingobium tardaugens , is a steroid-degrading bacterium used as a model to study the genetic and metabolic traits of steroidal sex-hormones catabolism. In this work, we investigated the bacterium ability to grow on bile salts such as cholate and deoxycholate and we performed directed mutagenesis along with transcriptomic analysis to shed light on the genes involved in bile salt metabolism. The mutation of the igr -like operon ( EGO55_03105-EGO55_03125 ), similar to the cholesterol-degrading operon igr from Rhodococcus jostii RHA1, did not affect the ability to grow on bile salts. The transcriptomic analysis in the presence of cholate showed the induction of two gene clusters named bsd I (bile-salts degradation) ( EGO55_16295 to EGO55_16335 ) and bsd II ( EGO55_11460–EGO55_11480 ), containing genes that, according to their sequence identity to other bile salt-degrading bacteria, might participate in the side chain degradation and the HIP pathway of cholate catabolism, respectively. Moreover, the presence of other proteins homologous to the 7α-hydroxy steroid dehydratase Hsh2, such as EGO55_02245, EGO55_12965, or EGO55_06935 , indicates that C. tardaugens cholate metabolism proceeds via the Δ 4,6 variant, as it is conserved in several bacteria from the genera Sphingobium , Novosphingobium , and Sphingomonas .

Field applications of sewage sludge improved soil properties and increased wheat yield in sand-textured soils of hot drylands - Nawal Ababsa; Sihem Fellah; Sonia Boudjabi; Rania Lallaouna; Mounir Sifi; Mourad Bessaih; Haroun Chenchouni (Biodegradation, 2026)

Microbial enzymes for plastic degradation: a comprehensive review of current status and emerging trends - M. Chekkath Shehbas; Dhanraj Sanjivkumar Desai; Tess Maria Mathew; K. Madhavan Nampoothiri (Biodegradation, 2026)

Removal of nitrogen and emerging pollutants from anaerobically treated effluents from domestic wastewater, using nitritation/anammox: a state of art review - Abid Ali Khan; Beni Lew; Ido Halperin; Rubia Zahid Gaur; Fares Halahlih; Vasileios Diamantis; Alexandros Eftaxias; Kapil Kumar; Carlos Dosoretz; Isam Sabbah (Biodegradation, 2026)

Highly efficient biomethane production from chicken manure and municipal organic solid waste using magnetite: converting waste into energy - Tuğçe Bay; Buğse Büşra Vural; Öznur Begüm Gökçek (Biodegradation, 2026)
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) addition on biogas and biomethane production in the anaerobic treatment of chicken manure (CM) and municipal organic solid waste (MOSW). Batch experiments were conducted under mesophilic conditions using different substrate-to-inoculum (S/I) ratios (0, 1, 2, and 4 g VS-S/g VS-I) and magnetite concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400, and 600 mg L⁻ 1 ). The highest biogas and biomethane production was obtained in the S/I = 1 gVS-S/gVS-I, 2:1 (CM: MOSW) reactor and were 2910.5 ± 199.4 mL CH 4 /gVS and 1718.03 ± 117.73 mL CH 4 /gVS, respectively. At different magnetite concentrations, the highest biogas and biomethane production occurred at 200 mgL −1 magnetite loading rate, 1842.7 ± 112.0 mL CH 4 /gVS and 1081.99 ± 65.78 mL CH 4 /gVS, respectively. The highest total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations were determined at S/I = 4, 2:1 (CM: MOSW) gVS-S/gVS-I loading ratio, while the highest TS and VS removal efficiency was determined at S/I = 1 gVS-S/gVS-I, 2:1 (CM: MOSW) ratio and 100 mgL −1 magnetite loading ratio. When the microbial distribution was examined, the first five dominant species ( W5, S1, Coprothermobacter, Treponema and Fervidobacterium ) did not change after the addition of magnetite. The findings demonstrate the positive effects of magnetite addition on biogas and biomethane production, providing significant insights for the development of new strategies to enhance anaerobic digestion processes.

Self-healing hydrogels: mechanisms and applications in biomedical and environmental fields - Maria Ayaz; Mohamed A. Habib; Waqar Uddin; Ahmed B. M. Ibrahim; Aasia Ayaz; Fawad Ahmad; Mudassir Iqbal (Biodegradation, 2026)

Copper biosorption by Serratia plymuthica: crucial role of tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances in planktonic and biofilm systems - Alice Melzi; Sarah Zecchin; Milena Colombo; Gigliola Borgonovo; Stefania Mazzini; Subhoshmita Mondal; Stefania Arioli; Lucia Cavalca (Biodegradation, 2026)
Heavy metals in aquatic environments pose significant environmental and human health risks, highlighting the urgent need for innovative remediation strategies. This study explores the role of bacterial extracellular polymeric substances as active binding surfaces for copper, in planktonic cells and biofilm-based adsorption systems. Serratia plymuthica strain As3-5a(5) achieved 92% Cu(II) biosorption (from an initial concentration of 3.14 mM) within 4 min in a non-proliferating planktonic cell system, and 98% biosorption in a biofilm-based system on sintered glass. Maximum metal biosorption was achieved by late stationary phase grown cells (72 h), likely due to an increased protein fraction in the tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances. When in the presence of real electroplating wastewater containing 40 mM Cu(II) at pH 1.9, planktonic cell system (10 11 cells mL −1 ) achieved 97% Cu(II) biosorption. These results highlight the strong potential of Serratia plymuthica strain As3-5a(5) for developing efficient biological systems for heavy metal removal from industrial wastewater. Furthermore, this work provides valuable insights into sustainable biotechnological approaches for copper remediation, with potential applications in catalytic processes and metal recovery within a circular economy framework. Future studies should involve synthetic biology approach to improve copper sequestration and to investigate the scalability of these systems to higher technology readiness levels under real industrial wastewater conditions.

Halotolerant indigenous bacterial–fungal consortia for biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons from Algerian refinery sludge: an integrated molecular and biodegradation approach - Asma Mesbah; Nadjla Chaib; Zine Eddine Boudjellab; Maya Ghannam; Fayçal Djazi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Enzymatic and environmental degradation of natural rubber–PHBV polymer blends - Carina Frank; Nina Grujicic; Stephanie Strutz; Lhamo Kelsang Yachungtsang; Gregor Trimmel; Lukas Miksch; Lars Gutow; Reinhard Saborowski; Manfred Nachtnebel; Franz Stelzer; Anita Emmerstorfer-Augustin (Biodegradation, 2026)
Bio-based and biodegradable polymer blends are promising alternatives to conventional plastics, yet their environmental fate remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the enzymatic and environmental degradation of natural rubber (NR) blended with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) using recombinant enzymes produced in Escherichia coli and Komagataella phaffii . Three PHB depolymerases from Pseudomonas lemoignei ( Pl DP), Acidovorax sp TP4 ( As DP), and Ralstonia pickettii ( Rp DP) were isolated and analyzed for thermal and pH stability. All depolymerases efficiently degraded the PHB/PHBV fraction in films and blends, whereas NR was largely resistant to degradation. To enhance rubber degradation, the latex-clearing protein from Streptomyces sp. K30 (Lcp_ Ssp ) was produced recombinantly and applied. It showed significant activity on NR substrates, including pretreated PHB–NR blends, demonstrating a synergistic two-step enzymatic process. Scanning electron microscopy and weight-loss assays confirmed selective PHB/PHBV degradation. Separate seawater pH–Stat degradation experiments under environmentally relevant conditions with four hydrolytic enzymes (protease, lipase, esterase, and Pl DP), showed highest activity of Pl DP on PHB/PHBV–NR blends. Additionally, incubation in estuarine mud revealed progressive surface erosion and pore formation, particularly in PHB-rich blends, highlighting the role of PHB/PHBV in facilitating overall biodegradation. This comprehensive assessment of enzymatic and environmental degradation processes of PHB/PHBV–NR composites provides information to design fully bio-based, degradable polymer materials for sustainable applications.

Recent advances in nanoadsorbents for the efficient removal of nickel ions from aqueous solutions - Sana Shafiq; Ahmed B. M. Ibrahim; Waqar Uddin; Mohamed A. Habib; Mudassir Iqbal; Fawad Ahmad (Biodegradation, 2026)

Adaptive and eco-biotechnological potential of a desert-derived rhizobacteria in mitigating drought stress through physiological modulation in maize - Ramiz Raja; Kausar Hussain Shah; Ghulam Sarwar; Tauseef Anwar; Huma Qureshi; Seema Mehmood; Habib-ur-Rehman Athar; Hossam S. El-Beltagi; Nazih Y. Rebouh; Leman Novruzova; Kabulzhan Azizov; Ibtisam M. Alsudays; et al. (Biodegradation, 2026)

Indigenous hydrocarbon-tolerant bacteria from refinery activated sludge (ETP II, Skikda, Algeria): isolation, identification and optimization of abiotic growth conditions - Fayza Mekhalif; Fayçal Djazi; Manel Gharbi; Abderrazak Maaroufi; Souhir Kmiha (Biodegradation, 2026)

Frontiers in plastic biodegradation: unraveling the mechanisms and impacts of macro- and microplastic pollution - Arindam Ganguly; Saptarshi Mahapatra; Shibsankar Ray; Sayantan Chattopadhyay; Md. Jabiul Islam; Sathi Garai; Manasi Chattaraj; Abhisek Das; Debasis Mitra; Sourav Chattaraj (Biodegradation, 2026)

Novel integrated acidic and microbial modification strategy to improve adsorption performance of water hyacinth - Nguyen Thi Hong; Duong Duc La; Chu Luong Tri; Le Xuan Sinh; Le Ngoc Thuan; Ichiro Kamei; Nguyen Thi Hoai Phuong; Xuan-Duc Do; Van-Hao Duong; Le Duy Khuong (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biosorption-based elimination of hexavalent chromium using Bacillus cereus F4810/72 isolated from tannery effluents - Arghyadeep Bhattacharjee; Debolina Chatterjee; Sayan Poddar; Tapti Sengupta; Srabani Karmakar; Arup Kumar Mitra; Tanima Bhattacharya; Shreyasee Roy; Saheli Roy Chowdhury; Khayali Das; Kunal Mondal (Biodegradation, 2026)

Response surface methodology (RSM) optimization of used engine oil biodegradation by Enterobacter hormaechei NMD and their growth kinetics - Nimra Nisar; Habiba Zaffar; Bibi Saima Zeb; Ghazal Khurshid; Tatheer Alam Naqvi; Mehmoona Zafar; Hajira Haroon (Biodegradation, 2026)

Advanced microbial engineering approaches for biodegradation of pharmaceutical pollutants - Soumitra Nath (Biodegradation, 2026)

Anaerobic biodegradation and activities of methanogens, acetogens, sulphate and nitrate reducing bacteria in aged oil wells from low sulphate oil producing environment - Chuma Okoro; Effanga Ekeng; Sylvester Ohwo; Obinna Nwinyi (Biodegradation, 2026)

Polyethylene biodegradation by cultivable fungi: review and prospects - Maria Luísa Oliveira; Gabriela Messias Miranda; Danielle Silva Trentin (Biodegradation, 2026)

Efficiency of indigenous microorganisms for biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil-contaminated soil - Nabila Kridi; Alaa Khallouf; Marah Iskandar; Abd Elaziz Sulieman Ahmed Ishag; Magboul M. S. Siddig (Biodegradation, 2026)

Comparative study on ZnSe nanoparticles and biosurfactant for enhanced anthracene biodegradation - Kumar Kowsalya; Anbalagan Ashika; Narayanaswamy Tamilselvan (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biodegradation of PHBV-based biocomposites in two different marine environments of the Mediterranean Sea - Patricia Feijoo; Anna Marín; José Tena-Medialdea; José Rafael García-March; José Gámez-Pérez; Luis Cabedo (Biodegradation, 2026)
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues worldwide, with large amounts of conventional plastics accumulating in terrestrial and marine ecosystems due to their persistence and ineffective waste management. Developing and understanding the biodegradation behavior of environmentally friendly alternatives, such as bioplastics, is therefore crucial to mitigate this problem. In this context, the degradation of PHBV-based biocomposites containing purified cellulose (TC), wood flour (WF), and almond shell (AS) fibers have been investigated and compared with neat PHBV in two Mediterranean marine locations—a port and the open sea, within the same geographic region. Changes in weight, surface morphology, surface roughness, surface chemistry, and mechanical properties were monitored and periodically evaluated over 18 months of seawater exposure at the two sites. After 18 months of immersion, PHBV/AS showed the highest disintegration degree (88% for 150 µm films and 33% for 500 µm sheets), with the port environment promoting up to a two- to three-fold higher biodegradation rate compared to the open sea. Additionally, mineralization was studied in lab-simulated marine conditions by tracking CO 2 release in order to study the actual effect of the fibers on the biodegradation rate of the PHBV. The research highlighted the significant influence of habitat-specific factors on biodegradation, with the port environment exhibiting a more pronounced impact on bacterial adhesion, weight loss, and the deterioration of mechanical properties compared to the open sea. Lignocellulosic fillers, regardless of type, promoted PHBV biodegradation in both conditions. In particular, PHBV/AS exhibited the highest disintegration degree, followed by PHBV/TC and PHBV/WF. Fiber characteristics such as size, shape, and porosity predominantly governed biocomposite disintegrability. Almond shell was revealed as the most favorable fiber for PHBV biodegradation during mineralization test. Under laboratory-simulated marine conditions, the composites reached 50% mineralization between 55 and 70% faster than neat PHBV, confirming the accelerating effect of the fibers on the biodegradation kinetics. This study aims to shed light on the understanding of the biodegradation mechanism of biodegradable polymers and the effect of cellulosic fillers on this natural process. Additionally, the study includes tests and measurements of biodegradation under real conditions, which will provide further insights into the kinetics of this process. This knowledge is of interest for designing biodegradable products and predicting their biodegradation time.

Bioremediation in action: recent progress, challenges, and future directions for environmental restoration - C. Krishna Raj; R. Siranjeevi; R. Susmitha; S. Sameera Shabnum; A. Saravanan; A. S. Vickram; Hitesh Chopra (Biodegradation, 2026)

Bioremediation of aquaculture wastewater using the fungal biomass integrating Plackett–Burman design - Hazem T. Abd El-Hamid; Muhammad A. El-Alfy; Hanan M. Hafiz; Hoda M. El-Gharabawy (Biodegradation, 2026)
Aquaculture wastewater contains elevated levels of nutrients and organic pollutants that can accelerate eutrophication and impair aquatic ecosystems if discharged untreated. In the study, a fungal-based remediation approach was investigated for the removal of pollutants from aquaculture wastewater collected from Baltim Station ponds (31.55244° N, 31.092855° E) near Lake Burullus, Egypt. Two native fungal isolates, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus , were employed for primary mycoremediation experiments, while Ganoderma mbrekobenum was included only in the Plackett–Burman experimental design to evaluate the influence of environmental and nutritional factors on total phosphorus (TP) removal under optimized conditions. The fungal treatment significantly improved water quality, showing substantial reductions in total protein, phosphorus, nitrogen, organic matter, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) indicating a vital role of Aspergillus species in the bioremediation of nutrient-rich aquatic environments. The Plackett–Burman design (PBD) showed that fungal treatment significantly reduced pollutant concentrations with higher metabolic activity and enzymatic production as dehydrogenase and total protein from 9 to 12 days. Moreover, PBD identified KH 2 PO 4 and MgSO₄ as the most influential variables for enhancing TP removal in the presence of G. mbrekobenum , while peptone and yeast extract exhibited the greatest effect in the non-fungal control system. The regression models demonstrated strong predictive accuracy (R 2 > 0.99), confirming the validity of the optimization approach. The results highlight the effectiveness of fungal biomass as a cost-effective and eco-friendly bioremediation strategy for mitigating nutrient pollution in aquaculture effluents and protecting sensitive aquatic environments such as Lake Burullus.

Plastic film biodegradation using Stutzerimonas stutzeri with metal nanoparticles as degradation enhancers—A bioeconomic approach - Mohanapriya Purushothaman; Karthikeyan Manivannan; Chamundeeswari Munusamy (Biodegradation, 2026)

Comparative proteomic profile of Aspergillus niger in response to polytetrafluoroethylene and irradiated polytetrafluoroethylene for enhanced bioremoval - Khaled Saeed; Shaimaa Abdelmohsen Ibrahim; Ola M. Gomaa (Biodegradation, 2026)
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a widely used fluoropolymer known for its chemical stability and resistance to degradation, making it a persistent environmental pollutant. The bioremediation of PTFE has proven challenging due to its inert nature. The aim of the present study is to characterize how changes in PTFE and irradiated PTFE may affect the proteomic profile of Aspergillus niger to propose protein biomarkers and depict bioremoval strategies. The results show that irradiating PTFE causes structural and spectral changes that increase with the increase of electron beam irradiation doses at 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 kGy as compared to the control. PTFE and irradiated PTFE were added to a 24 h Aspergillus niger culture, and the proteomic profile was studied using quantitative protein assay and a high-throughput Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) proteomics approach. The resultant chromatograms show that peak shifts can serve as a rapid indicator of PTFE and irradiated PTFE, highlighting the potential of proteomic profiling as a rapid screening tool. Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) mapping images show fluoride attached to A. niger mycelia, while quanitative SPADNS Fluoride assay revealed deflourination % of 28.0 and 31.6% for 80 and 320 kGy irradiated PTFE culture, respectively, as compared 11.2% for non-irradiated PTFE. These findings suggest that 1) high electron beam irradiation doses enhance PTFE degradation, 2) the proteomic profile can be used as a biomarker to detect the presence of PTFE or irradiated PTFE, and 3) A. niger can be further exploited for both PTFE and irradiated PTFE bioremoval via deflourination or adsorption on mycelial network. Further research is needed to enhance the deflourination process.

Eco-friendly remediation of reactive azo dye-laden wastewater via Lactobacillus casei immobilized on porous clay: mechanistic and phytotoxicity insights - Nishaa Balasundharam; Karthikeyan Ramalingam (Biodegradation, 2026)

Biochar and GA3-mediated enhancement of wheat performance under combined salinity and drought: physiological and biochemical insights for resilient agriculture - Tauseef Anwar; Huma Qureshi; Hossam S. El-Beltagi; Alisher Shokirov; Nargiza Khudoyberdiyeva; Akhtam Nurniyazov; Oybek Mamarakhimov; Nazih Y. Rebouh; Maryam M. Alomran; Ibtisam M. Alsudays; Khalid H. Alamer; Dilrabo Kodirova; et al. (Biodegradation, 2026)

Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated soils/water for environmental remediation - Veeramalli Naveen Sahith; J. Aravind Kumar; Vasamsetti Sai Sruthi; Sathish Sundararaman; D. Prabu; D. Venkatesan; A. Annam Renita (Biodegradation, 2026)

Advanced integrated Eco-strategies for effective antibiotic waste management - Varsha Sharma; Ishfaq Nabi Najar; Anu Radha; Sonali Sharma; Sunil Kumar; Deepika Singh; Sumit G. Gandhi; Vinod Kumar (Biodegradation, 2026)

Assessing the role of iodination degree on biodegradation kinetics and transformation pathways of iodinated contrast media and derivatives - Yuki Bartels; Martin Jekel; Anke Putschew (Biodegradation, 2026)
Triiodinated aromatic compounds used as iodinated contrast media in medical imaging are poorly biodegradable. Reductive dehalogenation enhances biotransformation, but the specific influence of iodination degree on biodegradation remains unclear. This study investigated the biodegradation of twelve model substances: iopromide and diatrizoate (both iodinated contrast media), 5-amino-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalic acid (ATIA, a precursor and transformation product), and their diiodinated, monoiodinated, and deiodinated derivatives. Biodegradation kinetics were assessed in Zahn-Wellens tests and nitrate-reducing aquifer material–water batch tests. DT 50 values were calculated to compare degradation rates. Transformation pathways were reconstructed based on literature data and detected transformation products, and evaluated for dependencies on iodination degree. In Zahn-Wellens tests, the iopromide derivatives degraded rapidly (DT 50 : 0.7–1.2 d) regardless of iodination degree. In contrast, degradation of the diatrizoate derivatives (DT 50 : 0.9–65 d) and the ATIA derivatives (DT 50 : 0.3–44 d) was strongly influenced by iodine number and position. For iopromide, transformation pathways were consistent across derivatives and included several novel transformation products beyond the previously assumed final product DDPI. In nitrate-reducing aquifer suspensions, aerobic pathways also occurred for the iopromide derivatives (DT 50 : 38.7–42.3 d). In contrast, only the monoiodinated and deiodinated diatrizoate were transformed (DT 50 : 5.6–8.2 d). Mineralization of the ATIA derivatives, measured via dissolved organic carbon, was significantly enhanced for the monoiodinated and deiodinated compound. The findings underline the importance of iodination degree for biotransformation and mineralization. This is particularly relevant for bank filtration, where (partial) deiodination to iodinated aromatics occurs before these compounds enter aerobic drinking water treatment.

Assessment of ceramic rings and k1 biofilter as carriers in phenol and COD removal using SB-MBBR using machine learning and statistical technique - Akankshya; Rakesh Roshan Dash (Biodegradation, 2025)

Enhanced textile dye wastewater treatment and power generation in microbial fuel cells using Bixa orellana fruit shell–derived biochar - Kumar Sonu; Himanshi Sen; Karishma Maheshwari; Manoj Kumar Tiwari; Monika Sogani (Biodegradation, 2025)

Laccase enzyme as a sustainable tool for improving environmental health - Kaveri Sarmah; Kaveri Saikia; Jayanti Datta Roy (Biodegradation, 2025)

Isolation and identification of soil bacteria capable of degrading biodegradable mulch films - Harshal J. Kansara; Yvan D. Hernandez-Charpak; André O. Hudson; Thomas A. Trabold; Jeffrey S. Lodge; Carlos A. Diaz (Biodegradation, 2025)
Agricultural mulch films (AMFs) enhance crop productivity by controlling soil temperature and moisture and suppressing weed growth. Conventional AMFs made from polyethylene (PE) pose disposal challenges and contribute to long-term plastic pollution. Biodegradable mulch films (BMFs) offer a promising alternative, but their degradation in soil remains slow and inconsistent. This study employed a culture-enrichment approach to isolate soil bacteria (i.e., Pseudomonas guariconensis and Achromobacter denitrificans ) capable of accelerating BMF biodegradation. Bioaugmentation with P. guariconensis enhanced CO₂ evolution in soil, with 48% and 36% carbon mineralization for two commercial BMFs (i.e., Bio360 and EcoVio), compared to 17% and 6.2% in non-inoculated soils. These findings demonstrate that targeted bacterial enrichment can accelerate BMF degradation, highlighting the potential for bioaugmentation to mitigate plastic accumulation in agricultural soils. Graphical Abstract

Oil mineral aggregates engineered from bio-synthesized calcite nanoparticles for improved crude oil biodegradation - Suraj Ramesh; Amit Kumar Prasad; P. Parthipan; V. Karthick; N. Prasanth Bhatt (Biodegradation, 2025)

Enhanced decolorization of congo red and methyl orange using Bacillus haynesii ING6: an optimization study using central composite design (CCD) - Isha Dharsandia; Narendra Kumar; Ananya Tiwari; Paritosh Parmar (Biodegradation, 2025)

Microbial nitrogen removal processes under PFAS stress: mechanisms, functional evolution, and research outlook - Wenting Fu; Xianglan Ao; Yuan Zhou; Mengxue Xing; Zhilin Xing (Biodegradation, 2025)

Biodegradation of synthetic dyes using Aspergillus fumigatus-derived laccase immobilized in alginate matrices - Akhtar Hussain; Ayush Saxena; Fouziya Parveen; Bodor Bin sheeha; Omar W. Althomali; Paridhi Puri; Irfan Ahmad; Saheem Ahmad; Mohammad Ashfaque (Biodegradation, 2025)

Biodegradation of chlorantraniliprole by Klebsiella spp. and Staphylococcus epidermidis - Bimal Kumar Sahoo; A. Suganthi; P. S. Shanmugam; R. Anandham; N. Swarnakumari; P. Meenakshi; Mohammad Ikram; P. Karthik; Iqra Ali; P. Thangachamy; K. Kiruthika (Biodegradation, 2025)

Deciphering the constraints of pure bacterial strains for the complete catabolism of sulfamethoxazole: A proteomic and kinetic study - Ana P. Lopez Gordillo; Alba Trueba-Santiso; Kilian E. C. Smith; Andreas Schäffer; Juan M. Lema (Biodegradation, 2025)
Organic micropollutants (OMP) pose a significant environmental challenge, and microbial degradation research typically involves monitoring parent compound depletion and metabolite production. Previous studies on the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) have shown its incomplete biotransformation by either mixed microbial communities or acclimated pure bacterial across various concentrations. However, the mechanisms behind this incomplete degradation and its relationship with the enzymatic capacities and expressions at environmentally relevant concentrations remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the biotransformation of SMX and the variations in the proteome at low µg L −1 concentrations using acclimated Microbacterium sp. BR1 as the bacterial degrader. Results show an incomplete depletion of the SMX and accumulation of the metabolite 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole (3A5MI). All test concentrations triggered the expression of the sulfonamide degrading enzymes (SadAB) and the modified target enzyme (Sul). Analysis of the functional proteins revealed increased cellular regulation and confirmed the bacterial strain's continued activity throughout the experiment. This suggests that at low SMX concentrations, even a highly sensitive and metabolically active strain may still require complementary enzymatic machinery to degrade potentially inhibitory metabolites. Thus, this study provides important insights into the persistence of SMX and reveals the complexities of antibiotic biodegradation at environmentally relevant concentrations, highlighting the need for comprehensive understanding of enzymatic mechanisms in micropollutant remediation strategies.

Biochar-enhanced biostimulation of maize under salinity stress: a sustainable approach to physiological recovery and soil resilience - Tauseef Anwar; Huma Qureshi; Parveen Kousar; Hossam S. El-Beltagi; Ibrokhim Ismoilov; Feruza Tukhtaboeva; Nazih Y. Rebouh; Maryam M. Alomran; Ibtisam M. Alsudays; Khalid H. Alamer (Biodegradation, 2025)

Physio-biochemical alterations and phytoremediation potential of hemp cultivated in ciprofloxacin (CIP)-contaminated soil: groundbreaking and enduring solution - Ghulam Murtaza; Muhammad Usman; Muhammad Rizwan; Javed Iqbal; Hassan Mehmood; Hossam S. El-Beltagi; Khairiah Mubarak Alwutayd; Gamal Awad El-Shaboury; Rashid Iqbal (Biodegradation, 2025)

Bioremediation of explosives-contaminated soil using microbial and environmental enhancements: a field-simulated pilot study in Israel - Avi Ben Laish; Jakub Z. Kosicki; Reuven Yosef (Biodegradation, 2025)

Correction: Aspergillus niger TC1 as multi-functional bioinoculant for biodegradation of chlorpyrifos, plant growth promotion and biocontrol of phytopathogens - Purushotham Tejashwini; Javaraiah Parashiva; Chandagalu Ramesh Santhosh; Syed Baker; Sreedharamurthy Satish (Biodegradation, 2025)

Ex-situ multi-media bioleaching and functional characterization of indigenous fungal strains for chromium and zinc remediation in polluted soils - Ibrar Khan; Muhammad Bilal Akram; Aneela Rehman; Mujaddad Ur Rehman; Tawaf Ali Shah; Saad A. Alamri; Yasser S. Mostafa; Abdulrahman A. Almehizia (Biodegradation, 2025)

Biodegradation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) using bacterial strains isolated from fresh bovine feces - Boutheina Trad; Zidane Branes; Ali Abdelatif Betouil; Silvia Lampis; Ahmet Ceyhan Gören; Rifat Gimatdin; Beatrice Tontini; Didem Çabuker (Biodegradation, 2025)

Synergistic approaches to soil remediation: engineered biochar and microbial interactions for climate-resilient remediation - Mital Lodariya; Debleena Bhattacharya; K. R. Abhilash (Biodegradation, 2025)

Simplified enzyme activity-based screening of microorganisms from Korean fermented foods for food-waste decomposition - Yu-Jin Im; Jae-Wan Ryu; Jong Ho Lee; Sunna Jyung; Min Je Cho; Sulhee Park; Dong-Hyun Kang (Biodegradation, 2025)

Anaerobic reactors for hospital wastewater treatment: a critical review of microbial communities in the antibiotic biodegradation and ecotoxicological impacts - Mateus Cottorello-Fonsêca; Gleyson B. Castro; Juliano J. Corbi; Marcelo Zaiat (Biodegradation, 2025)

Effect of urea concentration on the combined pollution of Cd and Ni in microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP) treatment - Dejun Yang; Shengnan Bei; Yong Yang (Biodegradation, 2025)

Valorisation of whey by mixotrophic and heterotrophic cultivation of microalgae for biomass and lipid production - Oto Jekabs Apse; Kristaps Neiberts; Santa Sukaruka; Tomass Tumpelis; Pavels Semjonovs (Biodegradation, 2025)

Activity of Phanerochaete chrysosporium during degradation of diesel fuel-contaminated soil under solid-state fermentation: CO2 production and ligninolytic enzymes - Atefeh Etemadi-Khah; Ahmad Ali Pourbabaee (Biodegradation, 2025)

Microbial phytoremediation of contaminated soils irrigated with industrial effluents: a soil health perspective - Amina Rasheed; Naila Khan; Nabila Shehzadi; Sajjad Hyder; Zarrin Fatima Rizvi; Amjad Shahzad Gondal; Noreen Khalid; Pamela Helué Morales-Sandoval; Sergio de los Santos-Villalobos; Lala Gurbanova; Rashid Iqbal; Mehdi Rahimi (Biodegradation, 2025)

A novel association by Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodobacter capsulatus for bioremediation of heavy metals from aqueous solutions - Daniela Aparecida Santos; Gabriela Aparecida Santos; Miriam Maria de Resende; Larissa Nayhara Soares Santana Falleiros; Fabiana Regina Xavier Batista (Biodegradation, 2025)

Filamentous fungal-mediated melanin nanoparticles for heavy metal detoxification via bioadsorption: a sustainable approach - Michael Helan Soundra Rani; Sivakumar Sujith (Biodegradation, 2025)

Improved hydrolyzed polyacrylamide biodegradation and gel breaking performance of composite bacteria - Jiqian Wang; Xuanyu Zhang; Han Han; Yuqin Jia; Hai Zhang; Yanhui Jia; Hui Li (Biodegradation, 2025)

Microbial degradation of diesel fuel as a potential environmental bioremediation - Letícia Beatriz Ueda Melo; Bruna Bacaro Borrego; Louise Hase Gracioso; Elen Aquino Perpetuo (Biodegradation, 2025)

Bioremediation potential assessment of oil-degrading bacterial consortium prepared from local bacterial strains and its survival using different porous carriers - Sareh Sadeghianfard Boroojeni; Hossein Motamedi (Biodegradation, 2025)

The mechanism underlying lignite biodegradation by Cupriavidus sp isolated from sludge - Yaya Wang; Weilong Cao; Tianyu Zhu; Jiaxuan Li; Damir Nussipov; Kuanysh Tastambek; Xiangrong Liu (Biodegradation, 2025)

Biodegradation of heavy petroleum polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in polluted soil by biofilm-forming Bacillus tropicus UCB and Pseudomonas aeruginosa SYLI isolated from crude oil-contaminated sludge - Uchechukwu Chinwe Nebo; Daniel Juwon Arotupin; Adewale Oluwasogo Olalemi (Biodegradation, 2025)

Isolation and identification of a novel cellulolytic bacterium and optimization of FPase production for bagasse hydrolysis - Nguyen Thi Hong; Le Duy Khuong (Biodegradation, 2025)

Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of polylactic acid, polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics: effect of inoculum-substrate ratio and microbiome - Mahesh Mohan; Zain Ul Abedien; Prasad Kaparaju (Biodegradation, 2025)
Microplastics (MPs) generated from major plastic polymers have impacted the environment and formulation of an end-of-life scenario is a need of the hour. In the current study, the effects of inoculum to substrate ratios (ISR) 2, 4 and 6 on the MPs from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) under thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) conditions was studied. The results indicated thermophilic AD to be a prospective method for PLA degradation with a maximum cumulative biogas production of 894.08 NmL/gVS added at ISR4 and 89.62% of volatile fatty acids (VFA) was utilised during 148 days of incubation. However, the thermophilic AD of PP and PE was observed to be highly inefficient with a maximum biogas production of 111.64 and 47.48 NmL/gVS added and also resulted in VFA accumulation. Under mesophilic AD conditions, PLA degradation was highly inefficient due to long hydrolysis time, whilst inhibition was noticed with both PP and PE. The microbiological study revealed the abundance of Firmicutes and Synergistota , genus D8A-2, Thermovirga and Candidatus Caldatribacterium during thermophilic AD of PLA. An abundance of Methanothermobacter indicated hydrogenotrophic methane production as the major pathway for methanogenesis during thermophilic AD of MPs. An abundance of PWY-3781 associated with detoxification of reactive oxygen species was observed in the AD of PP and PE. Overall, the study provided insight into the prospects for improving thermophilic AD for PLA.

Metabolic fingerprinting to elucidate the biodegradation of phosphonoacetic acid and its impact on Penicillium metabolism - Natalia Zielonka; Adam Ząbek; Karolina Anna Mielko-Niziałek; Małgorzata Brzezińska-Rodak; Ewa Żymańczyk-Duda; Piotr Młynarz; Magdalena Klimek-Ochab (Biodegradation, 2025)

Substrate-specific microbial community shifts during mesophilic biodegradation of polymers in compost amended soil - Mohamed Kishk; Rita Rahmeh; Fahad Asiri; Hajar Karam; Kawther Al-Muhanna; Ahmad Ben Hejji; Anisha Shajan; Sultan M. Al-Salem (Biodegradation, 2025)

Degradation of phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides by isolated bacterial strain LKDC4 Pseudomonas aeruginosa - Loveleen Kaur; Saurabh Bhatti; Dinesh Raj Modi (Biodegradation, 2025)

Demonstrated role of sulfate-reducing bacterial consortia in anaerobic paracetamol biodegradation - Kajal Saini; Smita S. Kumar; Vivek Kumar; Somvir Bajar (Biodegradation, 2025)

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) biodeterioration by microalgae: preliminary insights from the screening of indigenous species - Dinesh Parida; Kanika Kiran; Rimjhim Sangtani; Regina Nogueira; Kiran Bala (Biodegradation, 2025)

Seasonal dynamics of microbial diversity and functional potential in active sanitary landfill baseliner microbiomes - George Obinna Akuaka; Hazzeman Haris; Kamarul Zaman Zarkasi; Go Furusawa; Nyok-Sean Lau; Vine Nwabuisi Madukpe; Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid (Biodegradation, 2025)

Enterobacter hormaechei mediated biodegradation of PET: a sustainable approach to plastic waste - Selvakumar Santhosh; Jayaraman Narenkumar; Kayeen Vadakkan; M. S. Nandini; Aruliah Rajasekar; Rajaram Rajamohan (Biodegradation, 2025)

Advanced treatment and recovery of wastewater using aerobic membrane bioreactor—a review - Tanmoy Bir; Debabrata Mazumder (Biodegradation, 2025)

Effects of a novel Paraburkholderia phage IPK on the phenanthrene degradation efficiency of the PAH-degrading strain Paraburkholderia caledonica Bk - Esteban E. Nieto; Nawras Ghanem; Robertina V. Cammarata; Felipe Borim Corrêa; Bibiana M. Coppotelli; Antonis Chatzinotas (Biodegradation, 2025)
Phages are a major cause of bacterial mortality, affecting bacterial diversity and ecosystem functioning. However, the impact of phage-host interactions in contaminated environments and their role in pollutant biodegradation have largely been overlooked. We isolated and characterized a novel phage that infects the PAH-degrading bacterium Paraburkholderia caledonica Bk from a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil and investigated the effect of different multiplicity of infection (MOI) ratios on the degradation efficiency of phenanthrene. The phage IPK is a temperate phage with a wide pH and temperature tolerance and a burst size of 80 PFU ml⁻ 1 . The phage was classified as a member of the Caudoviricetes and is related to Pseudomonas and Burkholderia phages. However, its low intergenomic similarity indicates that it is a new species. Three auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) related to amino acid metabolism and to bacterial growth regulation were identified in the phage genome. The highest multiplicity of infection (MOI 10) showed a rapid recovery of the host density and greater phenanthrene degradation than MOIs ranging from 0.01 to 1. This work highlights the important role of phage-host interactions in modulating the efficiency of pollutant degradation, which could be a key for improving the establishment of inoculants in bioremediation processes. Graphical abstract

Plastic-to-CO₂: measuring mealworm-induced plastics degradation via aerobic respiration rates - Suleman Shahzad; Fida Hussain; Aparna Sharma; Syed Ejaz Hussain Mehdi; Sandesh Pandey; Woochang Kang; Hakwon Yoon; Youri Yang; Sang Eun Oh (Biodegradation, 2025)

Recent progress on the biological degradation and solubilization of coal - Lerato M. Sekhohola-Dlamini; Sohail Khan; Bobo Wang; Zhisheng Yu; A. Keith Cowan (Biodegradation, 2025)
Coal mining and coal combustion for energy generation will continue in the medium term and remain a primary source of pollutants. Its complex structure renders coal a recalcitrant material and relatively few bacteria and fungi can thus degrade this carbonaceous substrate. In this review, we assess research progress on the biological degradation and solubilisation of coal, waste coal, discard and gangue from 2014 to 2024, the period following the publication of our 2013 critical appraisal of this topic. We focus on the continued need for studies on coal biodegradation and bio-solubilization. We explore and, where appropriate, evaluate some of the more important recent advances in coal bio-solubilization research to illustrate progress in this field. Of particular significance are the ever-increasing number of bacterial and fungal biocatalysts identified as possessing coal degrading potential, the role of microbial consortia in this process, the aerobic and anaerobic mechanisms of coal utilisation, and progress in elucidating the underlying molecular and biochemical events involved. Also reviewed are advances in the application of industrial products derived from coal, including biomethane, coal-bed methane, and humic substances, and the use of waste and discard coal-derived humics as technosols for soil restoration and the commercial-scale rehabilitation of coal mining-affected land. It is concluded that an understanding of the mechanisms underpinning coal biodegradation is critical in combating many of the detrimental impacts of mined coal, exposed coal seams and stockpiled coal mine waste and that the outputs from these studies must be incorporated into the development of diversified production technologies and strategies for both socio-economic and ecological gain.

Enhanced biodegradation of fluorinated pharmaceutical by Aspergillus flavus and Cunninghamella elegans biofilms: kinetics and mechanisms - Ibtihal Alkarim; Murni Halim; Mohd Shamzi Mohamed; Fadzlie Wong Faizal Wong (Biodegradation, 2025)

Aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation of 1,2,3-trichloropropane and 1,2-dichloropropane: implications for bioremediation - Paul B. Hatzinger; Rachael Rezes; Simon Vainberg; Paul Koster van Groos (Biodegradation, 2025)

Prodigious biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic fluorene with manganese oxide nanoparticles from Stenotrophomonas sp. - Ayesha Aseef; S. Venkat Kumar (Biodegradation, 2025)

Inspiration of combined additive on the yield of humic and fulvic acids and the formation of functional groups to mitigate heavy metal bioremediation - Mohammed Haroun; Juanjuan Wang; Xiaoqing Qian (Biodegradation, 2025)

Bioremediation of hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) in fluoride contaminated environment by novel bacteria Bacillus albus SSAU-9 - Akanksha Singh; Abhijeet Sharma; Shanthy Sundaram (Biodegradation, 2025)

Biodegradation of lignocellulosic wastes by thermotolerant cellulolytic actinomycetal consortium isolated from Uhud Mountain, Madinah, Saudi Arabia - Asmaa M. M. Mawad; Amal I. M. Al-Turk; Nadia H. Mohamed; Abeer Almutrafy; Ahmad Alhujaily; Nabila Saleem; Hibah M. Albasri (Biodegradation, 2025)

Hybrid membrane technology with renewably derived biological and photocatalytic systems for wastewater treatment - Pragati Awasthi; Gunjan Kumar Agrahari; Akanksha Patel; Arvind Singh (Biodegradation, 2025)

Biodegradability of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolyesters in nature: a review - Martin Koller; Dustin Heeney; Anindya Mukherjee (Biodegradation, 2025)
In the search for sustainable alternatives and substitutes to overcome plastic pollution, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) stand out as the gold standard. The very fact that PHA are microbially produced from renewable carbon sources, biodegraded by microbial action, and possess the beneficial properties of over 50% of the world’s plastics has caught the attention of a wide range of producers, converters, brand owners, and policy makers with a view to replace conventional fossil-based plastics with these natural materials. PHA are readily biodegraded by the enzymatic toolbox of living organisms, aligning with the principle of natural circularity. Over 150 different monomeric building blocks of PHA have been identified, leading to a wide variety of naturally accessible PHA biopolyesters with diverse properties that include thermoplastic and crosslinkable polymers for single use and durable uses for packaging and personal care and as paints, coatings and adhesives, and as fibers for fabrics and textiles. The type of monomer and microstructure, as well as the environment, play important roles in their production and biodegradation. This comprehensive paper reviews the degradability of commercially available and other PHA types with varying microstructures in fresh water, sea water, soil, as well as in home and industrial composting and anaerobic conditions. Unlike previous reviews the authors integrate information from diverse biodegradation studies and provide a holistic view and understanding of the biodegradability of the PHA biopolymer family in nature and in industrial environments.

Microbiota structure shift under varying organic loading rates and their impact on polyhydroxyalkanoate production in wastewater treatment plants - Ylenia Di Leto; Antonio Mineo; Fanny Claire Capri; Antonio Palumbo Piccionello; Rosa Alduina; Giorgio Mannina; Giuseppe Gallo (Biodegradation, 2025)

Aspergillus niger TC1 as multi-functional bioinoculant for biodegradation of chlorpyrifos, plant growth promotion and biocontrol of phytopathogens - Purushotham Tejashwini; Javaraiah Parashiva; Chandagalu Ramesh Santhosh; Syed Baker; Sreedharamurthy Satish (Biodegradation, 2025)

Biodegradation of glyphosate by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia GP-1 involves C-P lyase pathway - Vidhi Bhatt; Prakash Koringa; Aravind Kumar Konda; Bragadish Iyer (Biodegradation, 2025)

Whole genome sequence of Arthrobacter sp. from Iloilo City landfill soil unveils potential plastic biodegradation genes - Jasmine Velo; Christopher Marlowe Caipang; Albert Noblezada; Lorenz Inri Banabatac; Noel Peter Tan; Victor Marco Emmanuel Ferriols (Biodegradation, 2025)

Identification of novel polyethylene-degrading fungi from South African landfill soils: Arthrographis kalrae, Lecanicillium coprophilum, and Didymosphaeria variabile - Nozipho Kheswa; Arun Gokul; Nontembeko Dube (Biodegradation, 2025)
The persistent inefficiency of landfill operations and plastic waste management in South Africa has intensified environmental contamination, underscoring the urgent need for innovative bioremediation strategies. This study aimed to identify and evaluate fungal isolates from landfill soils for their ability to biodegrade polyethylene (PE), thereby contributing to sustainable plastic waste management solutions. A total of eighteen fungal isolates were recovered from local landfill soils using plastic-enriched soil dilution techniques. These isolates were screened for PE biodegradation by incubating pre-weighed polyethylene strips with each fungal culture for 45 days at ambient temperature. Biodegradation efficiency was assessed through gravimetric weight loss, while structural alterations in the polymer matrix were examined using fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Several isolates demonstrated significant PE degradation, including the novel PE degraders Arthrographis kalrae SP5INT, Lecanicillium coprophilum SP7MK, and Didymosphaeria variabile SP11INT, reported here for the first time. Penicillium chrysogenum SP17MK and Engyodontium album SP3MK showed the highest degradation rates, achieving over 20% weight loss. FTIR analysis revealed the appearance of carbonyl groups (~ 1700 cm⁻ 1 ) and a reduction in characteristic PE peaks at 719 and 1472 cm⁻ 1 , suggesting oxidative degradation. SEM imaging further confirmed surface erosion and structural disintegration of the polymer, supporting the biochemical evidence of degradation. These findings represent the first report of novel fungal species capable of degrading PE in South African landfill soils and significantly expand the known diversity of plastic-degrading fungi. This work highlights South Africa's emerging role in microbial bioremediation research and provides a foundation for the development of locally relevant, biologically based plastic waste management strategies.

Bacterial lead vermicomposting as a sustainable strategy for remediating lead contamination in soil: a synergistic approach integrating bioremediation and nano-bioremediation - Kesha Naik; Krupanshi Bharadava; Harish Suthar; Radhey Shyam Kaushal (Biodegradation, 2025)

Comprehensive heavy metal remediation mechanisms with insights into CRISPR-Cas9 and biochar innovations - Akansha Garg; Prerna Chauhan; Charanjeet Kaur; Pankaj Kumar Arora; Sanjay Kumar Garg; Vijay Pal Singh; Krishna Pal Singh; Alok Srivastava (Biodegradation, 2025)

Statistical optimization of crude oil bioremediation using Streptomyces aurantiogriseus isolated from Egypt’s Western Desert - Sahar Y. Ibrahim; Eman A. Abdelhamid; Ali M. El-Hagrassi; Noha M. Kamal (Biodegradation, 2025)
One of the most common soil pollutants on a global scale is fuel, which is fundamental for daily activities. Biodegradation has been regarded as an ideal remediation technique for hydrocarbon pollution. We investigated the potential of 28 Streptomyces species inhabiting different hydrocarbon-polluted soils for the biodegradation of petroleum. The tested isolates were cultured on mineral salts broth containing 2% crude oil as the sole carbon source. Gravimetric analysis of residual crude oil was performed, and the samples that showed the highest percentage of biodegradation were also analyzed via gas chromatography. Among the isolated actinobacteria, Streptomyces aurantiogriseus strain NORA7 (EMCC 28565) stood out for its ability to degrade crude oil (66.28 ± 6.25%). Gas chromatography revealed that docosane, nonadecane, pentacosane, and 7-methylpentadecane were the major compounds detected in the residual treated crude oil. Plackett–Burman design (PB) was used to determine the critical factors impacting the biodegradation process. Response surface methodology (RSM) through Central Composite Design (CCD) was subsequently conducted, and the predicted optimum point of crude oil biodegradation was at 3% crude oil concentration, 0.15 g/L yeast extract, and 25 mm inoculum size. The experimental value after optimum conditions was 70% after 3 weeks, which was close to the predicted value. A pot experiment was performed to investigate the outcomes of ex situ soil bioremediation, and the results were consistent with those of the flask-scale biodegradation experiment with enhanced removal of crude oil (92%). The results revealed that the ability of S. aurantiogriseus NORA7 to biodegrade crude oil could significantly contribute to the eco-friendly recovery of oil-polluted ecosystems and reduce the long-term environmental impact of crude oil pollution. Graphical abstract