The issue of microplastic pollution has long been a global ecological priority, while biodegradation has received increasing attention as an important route for microplastic degradation. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are microplastics frequently found in soil. Excessive amounts of microplastics can cause damage to soil structure. Microplastics can negatively affect the water holding capacity of the soil and reduce the permeability of the soil. In addition, microplastics can aggregate with the soil, altering the soil environment and impeding the growth of plant roots. In the soil environment, microplastics can interact with microorganisms, and different types of microorganisms interact with different forms of microplastics in different ways. In this paper, the main pathways of microbial degradation of microplastics are compiled, including four stages: colonization, fragmentation, assimilation and mineralization, focusing on the analysis of different microbes in the soil environment on the mechanism of different types of microplastics and the related enzyme reactions, in order to avoid the toxicity of MPs to microorganisms in the soil environment, and the main factors affecting the activity in the process of degradation are reviewed, which will provide a reasonable basis for the subsequent degradation of the maximization.

Tetracycline (TC)–copper (Cu) co-contamination can impair soil functioning and intensify selection for antibiotic resistance. In a 49-day microcosm experiment, we evaluated the effects of Chlorella pyrenoidosa supplementation on soils treated with TC (0, 30, or 100 mg·kg⁻¹) and Cu (0, 100, or 500 mg·kg⁻¹). TC removal, extractable Cu, soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs), and microbial community composition were assessed. In unamended contaminated microcosms, TC dissipation ranged from 22.7% to 43.5%, whereas C. pyrenoidosa amendment increased TC dissipation to 49.9–73.5%. The addition also reduced extractable Cu by 35.6–50.6%, partially restored dehydrogenase and catalase activities, and altered bacterial community structure. Metagenomic analysis showed that tetX was the predominant TRG detected and that algal supplementation was associated with lower total TRG signals and reduced relative abundances of several pollution-associated taxa, including Rhodanobacter. Correlation analyses revealed associations among TRGs, microbial taxa, and treatment conditions but did not establish direct host–gene relationships or horizontal gene transfer. Overall, C. pyrenoidosa application enhanced TC removal and Cu immobilization and was associated with reduced enrichment of the tetracycline resistome.

Hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in water–soil systems pose persistent risks to pore water quality and groundwater safety because of their low aqueous solubility and strong soil sorption affinity. Electrokinetic remediation has emerged as a promising technology for controlling HOCs in contaminated water–soil systems, as it can regulate pore water movement, ionic migration, and contaminant transport under an applied electric field. However, the limited transfer of HOCs from soil into the aqueous phase restricts their electrokinetic removal efficiency, necessitating the use of surfactants to overcome these technical bottlenecks. This review elucidates the mechanistic basis of surfactant-enhanced electrokinetic remediation, with particular emphasis on micellar solubilization in pore water, contaminant desorption from soil matrices, and electrically driven transport across water–soil interfaces. Building on this mechanistic framework, the applications and performance of nonionic, anionic, cationic, biosurfactant, and mixed surfactants are summarized. Furthermore, the key factors governing surfactant efficacy are analyzed, including soil properties, contaminant characteristics, remediation objectives, operational parameters, environmental safety, and economic feasibility. By integrating mechanistic insights with environmental considerations, this review establishes a science-based framework for surfactant selection in electrokinetic remediation. This work provides a reference for enhancing contaminant transfer from soil matrices to the aqueous phase, reducing secondary risks to pore water and groundwater, and advancing the theoretical development and implementation of surfactant-enhanced electrokinetic remediation in environmental management.