Ruth Dayra Dahua Gualinga, Mariana Magdalena Conforme Garcia, Maricarmen Dávila-Ulloa, Marjorie Ivonne Mazo-Rodriguez
Soil contamination by hydrocarbons represents a critical environmental challenge due to its persistence, toxicity, and effects on human health and ecosystems. In this context, this research evaluates the bioremediation potential of microorganisms isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated soils through a systematic, exploratory, and qualitative literature review. Scientific articles published between 2013 and 2024 addressing the isolation, characterization, and application of bacteria, fungi, and microbial consortia in degradation processes were analyzed. The results indicate that bacterial genera such as Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, and Alcanivorax stand out for their effectiveness in degrading aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, while filamentous fungi, such as Pleurotus and Aspergillus, possess oxidative enzymes capable of transforming recalcitrant compounds. Likewise, microbial consortia show greater metabolic synergy than individual strains, optimizing biodegradation. Factors such as pH, temperature, humidity, nutrients, and bioavailability of the contaminant have a decisive influence on the efficiency of the process. It is concluded that the integration of strategies such as biostimulation, bioaugmentation, and the use of biosurfactants, combined with the rational design of microbial consortia, offers a sustainable and effective way to recover soils impacted by hydrocarbons.