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State-of-the-art microalgae-based bioreactor wastewater treatment for the elimination of emerging contaminants: A mechanistic review
Summary
Researchers reviewed how bioreactors using microalgae — tiny photosynthetic organisms — can remove a wide range of pollutants from wastewater, including microplastics, heavy metals, and pesticides, through processes like absorption and biological breakdown. While promising, the technology still faces challenges around scaling up and maintaining consistent performance in real-world treatment facilities.
The review article explores the state-of-the-art advancements in using bioreactors based on microalgae to detoxify wastewater, with an emphasis on the removal of various environmental contaminants (VECs). Because of their persistence and capacity for bioaccumulation, these pollutants—which include nutrients, heavy metals, organic compounds, microplastics, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and emerging contaminants—pose serious threats to the environment and human health. Innovative solutions are required since traditional wastewater treatment procedures frequently fail to efficiently eradicate VECs. The review carefully looks at how well microalgae can break down and remove VECs from wastewater. It clarifies the numerous processes, including as biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biotransformation, by which microalgae aid in the elimination of pollutants. Contaminants can be ingested by microalgae, which can then metabolise them into less toxic compounds or incorporate them into biomass. This study examines how adding microalgae to traditional treatment methods can improve both overall treatment effectiveness and operational stability. Operational challenges such as maintaining optimal growth conditions for microalgae, scalability of bioreactor systems, and the need for continuous monitoring and control are thoroughly discussed. The analysis highlights several avenues for future research, such as genetically modifying microalgae strains to enhance pollutant degradation, creating more effective bioreactor designs, and incorporating cutting-edge monitoring systems. The analysis indicates that although microalgae-based bioreactors have great potential to remove VECs, further investigation and developments in technology are needed to fully realise this potential in large-scale wastewater treatment applications. Researchers, environmental engineers, and politicians can benefit greatly from this review, which offers a thorough grasp of the present and potential future applications of microalgae-based bioreactor technology for wastewater treatment.