Wastewater utilization as a medium for microalgal cultivation have copious simultaneous perquisites such as removal of nutrients (80–100%), heavy metal removal, carbon dioxide (CO₂) sequestration from atmosphere (1.83 kg CO₂ kg⁻¹ biomass), and high biomass production for biofuel generation (40–50% higher than crops feedstock). Municipal, industrial, domestic, agro-industrial, and several other types of wastewater treatment by coupling microalgal cultivation require two sorts of systems: open pond systems (OPs) and closed photobioreactors (PBRs). Many studies have focused on the utilization of OPs and closed PBRs for microalgal cultivation; however, comprehensive information in context of nutrient removal efficiency and biomass productivity with updated data is not fully addressed. In this review, wastewater treatment coupled microalgal cultivation for biofuel generation is emphasized in OPs and closed PBRs. The limitations of both systems, implementation of different approaches to enhance the biomass productivity, and economic feasibility are also highlighted. Based on the literature analysis, PBRs are more effective in wastewater treatment and biomass/biofuel generation due to contamination control and management of major parameters affecting microalgal growth. However, the implementation of various techniques to reduce the capital investment in PBR reactor designs is required for further use on commercial scale.

废水作为微藻培养的媒介，同时具有丰富的条件，例如去除营养物（80–100％），去除重金属，从大气中隔离二氧化碳（CO ₂）（1.83 kg CO ₂ kg ^-1生物量），以及用于生物燃料生产的高生物量生产（比农作物原料高40–50％）。市政，工业，生活，农业，工业以及其他几种通过微藻类培养相结合的废水处理系统需要两种系统：开放式池塘系统（OP）和封闭式光生物反应器（PBR）。许多研究集中于利用OP和封闭式PBRs进行微藻培养。但是，关于营养物去除效率和生物量生产率的全面信息以及最新数据并未得到充分解决。在这篇综述中，OPs和封闭式PBR中强调了废水处理与微藻栽培相结合来生产生物燃料。还强调了这两种系统的局限性，采用不同方法来提高生物质生产率以及经济可行性。根据文献分析，由于污染物的控制和影响微藻生长的主要参数的管理，PBR在废水处理和生物质/生物燃料的生产中更有效。但是，为了在商业规模上进一步使用，需要实施各种技术以减少PBR反应器设计中的资本投资。