Petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) are key energy sources for several industries and daily life. Soil contamination from oily PHC spills is commonly detected in cities and industrial facilities where crude oil is used. The release of PHC pollutants into the environment, whether accidentally from petroleum industries or human activities, has become a leading source of soil pollution. Consequently, the mineralization of PHC-polluted sites has become a central issue worldwide. Although bioremediation is imperative for environmental safety and management, several approaches have been developed for PHC bioremediation. However, much remains to be explored in this regard. This review explores bioremediation of PHC-contaminated soil and provides a comprehensive examination of the principles, degradation mechanisms, and recent advancements in the field. Several microbial species have been used to study the bioremediation of PHCs, emphasizing the pivotal roles of diverse microbial communities. Aspergillus spp., Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes groups of microorganisms were the most efficient in remediating PHC-contaminated soil. The fundamental concepts behind the bioremediation of PHC and the complex mechanisms that govern degradation were elucidated. Limiting factors in the bioremediation process and recent innovations propelling the field were also discussed. Therefore, understanding the degradation pathway, ensuring complete degradation of contaminants, and flexible legislation for the proper use of genetically engineered microbes can make bioremediation more sustainable and cost-effective.

Background: The extensive use and production of PPE, and disposal in the COVID-19 pandemic increases the plastic wastes arise environmental threats. Roughly, 129 billion face masks and 65 billion plastic gloves every month are used and disposed of on the globe. The study aims to identify the polymer type of face masks and gloves and sustainable plastic waste management options. Results: The identification of polymers, which can help for fuel conversion alternatives, was confirmed by FTIR and TGA/DTA analysis and confirms that the polymeric categories fit for the intended purpose. Moreover, the handling technique for upcycling and the environmental impacts of the medical face mask and glove were discussed. The FTIR result revealed that face masks and gloves are polypropylene and PVC thermoplastic polymer, respectively and they can be easily transformed to fuel energy via pyrolysis. The endothermic peaks around 431 ℃ for medical glove and 175 ℃ for surgical is observed tells that the melting point of the PVC and polypropylene of plastic polymers, respectively. The pyrolysis of the face mask and glove was carried out in a closed reactor at 400 ℃ for 1 h. Conferring to lab-scale processes, liquid, and wax fuel rate of 75%, char of 10%, and the rest non-condensable gases were estimated at the end. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the medical plastics can be recycled into oil due to their thermoplastics nature having high oil content and the waste to energy conversion can potentially reduce the volume of PPE plastic wastes.