SUSTAINABLE BIOREMEDIATION OF ACETAMINOPHEN USING BACTERIA: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Acetaminophen is a common antipyretic and analgesic pharmaceutical contaminant and has become one of the most emerging contaminants in the environment. Bioremediation is the suitable method to degrade acetaminophen as it is sustainable, mimics nature and is low-cost. The bioremediation of acetaminophen is performed by identifying the bacterial characteristics and the source of the bacteria involved in the degradation of acetaminophen. Based on this review study, gram-negative bacteria showed the highest efficiency in degrading acetaminophen by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain HJ1012 and Cupriavidus necator with an efficiency of 99% and 100%, respectively. In addition, synergistic or antagonistic interaction among bacteria in mixed culture is a gap of study. The findings from the previous study showed that the optimum conditions are pH 7.0, temperature ranges between 30–40°C, and a poor culture medium of minimal salt solution. Furthermore, the study sheds light on enzyme involvement and characterisation of acetaminophen degradation pathways toward less harmful intermediates are addressed in order to achieve sustainable development goals through environmental security and health safety. These identified research gaps offer fundamental knowledge and shed insight into upcoming mechanism and application studies.