Abstract:

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been widely used for killing oncomelania, the only intermediate host of schistosome in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River where schistosomiasis is epidemic in recent decades. Although the production and use of PCP is restricted currently, severe PCP contamination still exists in environment, which posed a potential danger to the aquatic ecosystem and human health. Soil and sediment are the primary containers of PCP in environment. Bioremediation is an option that may accelerate the removal of various environmental contaminants using the functions of biomes absorbing, metabolizing and biodegrading the contaminants, thus, bioremediation technology becomes a preferred way of treating PCP pollution. In the present paper, the effect and mechanism of bioremediation technology, inclusive of phytoremediation, microbial remediation, plant-microbial degradation technology, soil fauna remediation technology and composting technology are reviewed, and the future trend of bioremediation technology is predicted. The present paper aims to provide scientific basis and application fundamental for further research in the bioremediation technology and ecological remediation of PCP in aquatic environment in epidemic areas.

Key words: pentachlorophenol, bioremediation, microbial degradation, phytoremediation, environmental pollution