<![CDATA[Soil contamination by hydrocarbons, pesticides, heavy metals, and complex pollutants is rapidly increasing and degrading essential ecosystem functions. Physical or chemical treatments offer faster results, yet they are often costly, energy-intensive, and risk disrupting soil biological integrity without fully eliminating pollution sources. Microorganism-based bioremediation provides a more sustainable alternative by utilizing microbial metabolism to degrade or immobilize pollutants into less toxic and less mobile forms. This article presents a structured literature review on the roles and applications of microorganisms for bioremediation of contaminated soils, covering comparisons between single isolates and microbial consortia, dominant biological mechanisms, and ecological challenges in field application. A Systematic Literature Review approach was applied, using narrative synthesis and thematic clustering of national and international journals published between 2020 and 2025. The review indicates that single microbial isolates are commonly selected for specific pollutant targets, whereas microbial consortia are preferred for mixed or persistent contaminants due to metabolic synergy that enhances microbial adaptability and stepwise pollutant breakdown in highly polluted soils. Adaptive mechanisms such as EPS production and biofilm formation contribute to microbial resilience under stress and help retain contaminants within the soil matrix. Key challenges identified include inoculum stability under extreme conditions and limited microbial access to pollutants trapped in micro-soil pores. The findings highlight that microbial selection strategies must be tailored to pollutant characteristics and soil environmental conditions, while also emphasizing the potential of biofilm-based systems and organic carriers to support broader field implementation of microbial bioremediation.]]>
Copyrights © 2025
