Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent environmental contaminants composed of two or more fused benzene rings. Their chemical stability allows them to remain in soils and sediments for extended periods of time, and many PAHs are known to be carcinogenic or mutagenic, posing significant risks to human and ecosystem health. Bioremediation offers a cost-effective and sustainable strategy for addressing PAH contamination by harnessing microbial metabolism to degrade these compounds. However, in situ bioaugmentation efforts often produce inconsistent results because introduced microbes struggle to survive environmental stressors and compete with established native microbial communities. This project investigates microbial microencapsulation as a strategy to enhance the stability and reliability of bioaugmentation. Using ionic gelation, PAH-degrading microorganisms are encapsulated within a sodium alginate matrix to form stable, porous microcapsules. These capsules are designed to protect introduced organisms, buffer them against environmental stress, and allow for gradual release into the surrounding system. By improving microbial persistence and controlled delivery, this work advances a more predictable and scalable framework for environmental remediation.