A critical review of the remediation of PAH-polluted marine sediments: current knowledge and future perspectives

PAHs are largely spread in the aquatic environment, and the drawbacks of conventional remediation techniques as well as the expenditures for alternative disposal of polluted sediments lead to seek more effective, environmentally-friendly and sustainable approaches. Therefore, the present review shows a critical overview of the literature evaluated with VOSviewer, focusing on the problem of PAH-contaminated marine sediments and the knowledge of available remediation processes to shed light on what research and technology lack. This review supplies specific information about the key factors affecting biological, physical-chemical and thermal remediation techniques, and carefully examines the drawbacks associated with their employment for remediating PAH-polluted marine sediments by showing adequate alternatives. The technologies thoroughly discussed here are biostimulation, bioaugmentation, sediment washing, carbonaceous adsorbent addition and thermal desorption. The environmental and economic impacts associated with the application of the mentioned remediation technologies have been also taken into account. Finally, this review examines new research directions by showing future recommendations.