Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soils by cold-adapted microorganisms: Research advance.

Cold鄄adapted microorganisms such as psychrotrophs and psychrophiles widely exist in the soils of sub鄄Arctic, Arctic, Antarctic, alpine, and high mountains, being the important microbial resources for the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons at low temperature. Using the unique advantage of cold鄄adapted microorganisms to the bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon鄄contaminated soils in low temperature region has become a research hotspot. This paper summarized the category and cold鄄adaptation mechanisms of the microorganisms able to degrade petroleum hydrocarbon at low temperature, biodegradation characteristics and mechanisms of different petroleum fractions under the action of cold鄄adapted microorganisms, bio鄄stimulation techniques for improving biodegradation efficiency, e. g. , inoculating petroleum鄄degrading microorganisms and adding nutrients or bio鄄surfactants, and the present status of applying molecular biotechnology in this research field, aimed to provide references to the development of bioremediation techniques for petroleum hydrocarbon鄄contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]