Utilizing periphyton as an innovative biotechnology in pollutants removal

Periphyton is a complex biological community comprising microorganisms and organisms from different physiological groups that collectively attach to various submerged surfaces in wetland ecosystems. Periphytic biofilms play a critical role in the wetland ecosystem’s dynamicity and possess a considerable capacity for decontamination. The following article examines the various aspects of periphytic biofilms’ capacity for removing some of the most critical environmental pollutants, including organic pollutants, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, microplastics, and excess nutrients. The paper provides comprehensive discussions on the critical pollutant removal mechanisms employed by the periphytic communities. Additionally, the paper endeavors to contribute to the available knowledge regarding utilizing and developing periphyton-derived bioremediation technologies by presenting the most recent research findings, discussing common challenges in periphyton’s biotechnological application, and delineating crucial research gaps to postulate future research questions. Applying periphyton in pollutant removal aligns with the most recent paradigm of bioremediation technologies advocating the use of microbial consortia instead of single microbial species. In this regard, research results convey that the simultaneous presence of multiple microbial groups together in a biological community (such as periphyton) increases the microorganisms’ resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions and enhances the biological community’s capacity for decontamination. Based on the studies presented in this article, periphytic biological communities can employ different mechanisms to transform and biodegrade a wide array of pollutants.