Abstract
Wastewater treatment requires the removal of contaminants, solids, nutrients, coliforms, and pathogenic bacteria. Classical treatments require high energy and induce secondary pollution by disinfectants. Alternatively, phycoremediation, which involves the use of algae to clean water, appears smarter and more sustainable because compounds such as nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and minerals appear as ‘nutrients’ to feed algae rather than ‘contaminants’. Phycoremediation thus allows to remove phosphates, nitrates, heavy metals, pesticides, hydrocarbons, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Moreover, the conditions favoring algal growth are disfavoring bacterial growth, which prevents the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and improves water disinfection. Open pond systems have low maintenance, simple design, and reduce carbon footprint. Here we review factors controlling wastewater phycoremediation, and the most common systems. Microalgae are the main species used for phycoremediation. Efficiency is controlled by biotic factors, abiotic factors and algal strains. Photobioreactors appear unsuitable for large-scale applications due to cost, complicated operational procedures and scaling-up difficulties. Open pond systems are ideal for providing clean water in developing countries.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- AIWPS:
-
Advanced integrated wastewater pond system
- HRAP:
-
High rate algal pond
- HRAPs:
-
High rate algal ponds
- BOD5 :
-
Biochemical oxygen demand for 5 days test
References
Abdel-Raouf N, Al-Homaidan AA, Ibraheem IBM (2012) Microalgae and wastewater treatment. Saudi J Biol Sci 19(3):257–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2012.04.005
Abou-Shanab RA, Hwang J-H, Cho Y, Min B, Jeon B-H (2011) Characterization of microalgal species isolated from fresh water bodies as a potential source for biodiesel production. Appl Energy 88(10):3300–3306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.01.060
Aigars L, Tālis J (2017) Review on challenges and limitations for algae-based wastewater treatment. Constr Sci 20(1):17–25. https://doi.org/10.2478/cons-2017-0003
Akhil D, Lakshmi D, Senthil Kumar P, Vo D-VN, Kartik A (2021) Occurrence and removal of antibiotics from industrial wastewater. Environ Chem Lett. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01152-0
Alexiou GE, Mara DD (2003) Anaerobic waste stabilization ponds: a low-cost contribution to a sustainable wastewater reuse cycle. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 109(1–3):241–252. https://doi.org/10.1385/abab:109:1-3:241
Álvarez-Díaz P, Ruiz J, Arbib Z, Barragán J, Garrido-Pérez M, Perales J (2017) Freshwater microalgae selection for simultaneous wastewater nutrient removal and lipid production. Algal Res 24:477–485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.02.006
Anastopoulos I, Kyzas GZ (2015) Progress in batch biosorption of heavy metals onto algae. J Mol Liq 209:77–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2015.05.023
Apandi NM, Mohamed RMSR, Al-Gheethi A, Kassim AHM (2019) Microalgal biomass production through phycoremediation of fresh market wastewater and potential applications as aquaculture feeds. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26(4):3226–3242. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3937-3
Aravantinou AF, Theodorakopoulos MA, Manariotis ID (2013) Selection of microalgae for wastewater treatment and potential lipids production. Biores Technol 147:130–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.08.024
Arbib Z, Ruiz J, Álvarez-Díaz P, Garrido-Pérez C, Perales JA (2014) Capability of different microalgae species for phytoremediation processes: wastewater tertiary treatment, CO2 bio-fixation and low cost biofuels production. Water Res 49:465–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2013.10.036
Aslan S, Kapdan IK (2006) Batch kinetics of nitrogen and phosphorus removal from synthetic wastewater by algae. Ecol Eng 28(1):64–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2006.04.003
Balázs József N, Magdolna M, István E, Andrea R, Jonathan M, Iris Vural G, Ana R-M, Aurora S, José F, Fabian A, Hans R, Lambertus AMvdB, Jordan S, Diana G-B, Jean-Philippe S, Miklós G-K (2018) MAB2.0 project: integrating algae production into wastewater treatment. EuroBiotech J 2(1):10–23. https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2018-0003
Borowitzka MA (1998) Limits to growth. In: Wong YS, Tam NFY (eds) Wastewater treatment with algae. Springer, Berlin, pp 203–226
Bouabidi ZB, El-Naas MH, Zhang Z (2019) Immobilization of microbial cells for the biotreatment of wastewater: a review. Environ Chem Lett 17(1):241–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0795-7
Cai T, Park SY, Li Y (2013) Nutrient recovery from wastewater streams by microalgae: status and prospects. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.11.030
Chan K-Y, Wong KH, Wong PK (1979) Nitrogen and phosphorus removal from sewage effluent with high salinity by Chlorella salina. Environ Pollut (1970) 18(2):139–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9327(79)90089-2
Chaumont D (1993) Biotechnology of algal biomass production: a review of systems for outdoor mass culture. J Appl Phycol 5(6):593–604. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02184638
Chevalier P, Proulx D, Lessard P, Vincent W, De la Noüe J (2000) Nitrogen and phosphorus removal by high latitude mat-forming cyanobacteria for potential use in tertiary wastewater treatment. J Appl Phycol 12(2):105–112 (ISBN: 91-7178-288-5)
Chisti Y (2007) Biodiesel from Microalgae. Biotechnol Adv 25(3):294–306
Chisti Y (2013) Constraints to commercialization of algal fuels. J Biotechnol 167(3):201–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2013.07.020
Chiu SY, Tsai MT, Kao CY, Ong SC, Lin CS (2009) The air-lift photobioreactors with flow patterning for high-density cultures of microalgae and carbon dioxide removal. Eng Life Sci 9(3):254–260. https://doi.org/10.1002/elsc.200800113
Christenson L, Sims R (2011) Production and harvesting of microalgae for wastewater treatment, biofuels, and bioproducts. Biotechnol Adv 29(6):686–702
Clara M, Kreuzinger N, Strenn B, Gans O, Kroiss H (2005) The solids retention time-a suitable design parameter to evaluate the capacity of wastewater treatment plants to remove micropollutants. Water Res 39(1):97–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2004.08.036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2011.05.015
Colak O, Kaya Z (1988) A study on the possibilities of biological wastewater treatment using algae. Doga Biyolji Serisi 12(1):18–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2011.05.015
Craggs R, Park J, Heubeck S, Sutherland D (2014) High rate algal pond systems for low-energy wastewater treatment, nutrient recovery and energy production. NZ J Bot 52(1):60–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2013.861855
Davies-Colley R, Craggs R, Nagels J (2003) Disinfection in a pilot-scale “advanced” pond system (APS) for domestic sewage treatment in New Zealand. Water Sci Technol 48(2):81–87. https://doi.org/10.2166/9781780402499
de la Noüe J, Laliberté G, Proulx D (1992) Algae and waste water. J Appl Phycol 4(3):247–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02161210
de Mooij T, de Vries G, Latsos C, Wijffels RH, Janssen M (2016) Impact of light color on photobioreactor productivity. Algal Res 15:32–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2016.01.015
De Pauw N, Van Vaerenbergh E (1983) Microalgal wastewater treatment systems: potentials and limits. In: Ghette PF (ed) Phytodepuration and the employment of the biomass produced. Centro Ric Produz, Animali, Reggio Emilia, pp 211–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2012.04.005
Devaraja S, Bharath M, Deepak K, Suganya B, Vishal B, Swaminathan D, Meyyappan N (2017) Studies on the effect of red, blue and white LED lights on the productivity of Chlorella vulgaris to treat dye industry effluent. Adv Biotechnol Microbiol. https://doi.org/10.19080/AIBM.2017.06.555682
Dor I (1980) Effect of the green algae isolated from wastewater on the activity of sewage bacteria. Algae biomass: production and use/[sponsored by the National Council for Research and Development, Israel and the Gesellschaft fur Strahlen-und Umweltforschung (GSF), Munich, Germany]; editors, Gedaliah Shelef, Carl J Soeder
Duan Y, Shi F (2014) Chapter 2—bioreactor design for algal growth as a sustainable energy source. In: Shi F (ed) Reactor and process design in sustainable energy technology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 27–60. ISBN: 9780444595669, Paperback ISBN: 9780444638342, eBook ISBN: 9780444595782
Eustance E, Badvipour S, Wray JT, Sommerfeld MR (2016) Biomass productivity of two Scenedesmus strains cultivated semi-continuously in outdoor raceway ponds and flat-panel photobioreactors. J Appl Phycol 28(3):1471–1483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-015-0710-6
Fan J, Zheng L, Bai Y, Saroussi S, Grossman AR (2017) Flocculation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with different phenotypic traits by metal cations and high pH. Front Plant Sci 8:1997–1997. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.01997
Filippino KC, Mulholland MR, Bott CB (2015) Phycoremediation strategies for rapid tertiary nutrient removal in a waste stream. Algal Res 11:125–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2015.06.011
Fontes AG, Angeles Vargas M, Moreno J, Guerrero MG, Losada M (1987) Factors affecting the production of biomass by a nitrogen-fixing blue-green alga in outdoor culture. Biomass 13(1):33–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/0144-4565(87)90070-9
Gao F, Li C, Yang ZH, Zeng GM, Mu J, Liu M, Cui W (2016) Removal of nutrients, organic matter, and metal from domestic secondary effluent through microalgae cultivation in a membrane photobioreactor. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 91(10):2713–2719. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.4879
Gordon JM, Polle JE (2007) Ultrahigh bioproductivity from algae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 76(5):969–975. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-1102-x
Gupta SK, Bux F (2019) Application of microalgae in wastewater treatment: volume 2: biorefinery approaches of wastewater treatment. Springer, Berlin. ISBN 978-3-030-13909-4
Guzzon A, Di Pippo F, Congestri R (2019) Wastewater biofilm photosynthesis in photobioreactors. Microorganisms 7(8):252. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7080252
Hammouda O, Gaber A, Abdelraouf N (1995) Microalgae and wastewater treatment. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 31(3):205–210. https://doi.org/10.1006/eesa.1995.1064
Ibrahim MA, MacAdam J, Autin O, Jefferson B (2014) Evaluating the impact of LED bulb development on the economic viability of ultraviolet technology for disinfection. Environ Technol 35(1–4):400–406. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2013.829858
Ibrahim AFM, Dandamudi KPR, Deng S, Lin JYS (2020) Pyrolysis of hydrothermal liquefaction algal biochar for hydrogen production in a membrane reactor. Fuel 265:116935. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116935
Karthik V, Kumar PS, Vo D-VN, Sindhu J, Sneka D, Subhashini B, Saravanan K, Jeyanthi J (2020) Hydrothermal production of algal biochar for environmental and fertilizer applications: a review. Environ Chem Lett. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01139-x. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01059-w
Keeler CC, Stephenson JD, Schenk SW, Cloud GB, Naradikian S, Irwin SW (2010) Algae production systems and associated methods. Google Patents. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5479-9_7
Kim TH, Lee Y, Han SH, Hwang SJ (2013) The effects of wavelength and wavelength mixing ratios on microalgae growth and nitrogen, phosphorus removal using Scenedesmus sp. for wastewater treatment. Bioresour Technol 130:75–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.11.134
Kotrba P (2011) Microbial biosorption of metals—general introduction. In: Kotrba P, Mackova M, Urbánek V (eds) Microbial biosorption of metals. Springer, Berlin, pp 1–6
Kubín Š, Borns E, Doucha J, Seiss U (1983) Light absorption and production rate of Chlorella vulgaris in light of different spectral composition. Biochem Physiol Pflanzen 178(2):193–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-3796(83)80032-8
Kumar D, Singh B, Ankit (2019) Phycoremediation of nutrients and valorisation of microalgal biomass: an economic perspective. In: Gupta SK, Bux F (eds) Application of microalgae in wastewater treatment: volume 2: biorefinery approaches of wastewater treatment. Springer, Cham, pp 1–15. ISBN 978-3-030-13909-4
Larsdotter K (2006) Wastewater treatment with microalgae-a literature review. Vatten 62(1):31
Lavoie A, De la Noüe J (1985) Hyperconcentrated cultures of Scenedesmus obliquus: a new approach for wastewater biological tertiary treatment? Water Res 19(11):1437–1442. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(85)90311-2
Li K, Liu Q, Fang F, Luo R, Lu Q, Zhou W, Huo S, Cheng P, Liu J, Addy M (2019) Microalgae-based wastewater treatment for nutrients recovery: a review. Biores Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121934
Lim S-L, Chu W-L, Phang S-M (2010) Use of Chlorella vulgaris for bioremediation of textile wastewater. Biores Technol 101(19):7314–7322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.04.092
Liu N, Yang Y, Li F, Ge F, Kuang Y (2016) Importance of controlling pH-depended dissolved inorganic carbon to prevent algal bloom outbreaks. Biores Technol 220:246–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.08.059
Luo Y, Le-Clech P, Henderson RK (2017) Simultaneous microalgae cultivation and wastewater treatment in submerged membrane photobioreactors: a review. Algal Res 24:425–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2016.10.026
Malik LA, Bashir A, Qureashi A, Pandith AH (2019) Detection and removal of heavy metal ions: a review. Environ Chem Lett 17(4):1495–1521. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-019-00891-z
Mandeno G, Craggs R, Tanner C, Sukias J, Webster-Brown J (2005) Potential biogas scrubbing using a high rate pond. Water Sci Technol 51(12):253–256. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2005.0476
Marsullo M, Mian A, Ensinas AV, Manente G, Lazzaretto A, Marechal F (2015) Dynamic modeling of the microalgae cultivation phase for energy production in open raceway ponds and flat panel photobioreactors. Front Energy Res 3:41. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2015.00041
Mata TM, Martins AA, Caetano NS (2010) Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 14(1):217–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.07.020
Mattos ER, Singh M, Cabrera ML, Das KC (2015) Enhancement of biomass production in Scenedesmus bijuga high-density culture using weakly absorbed green light. Biomass Bioenergy 81:473–478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.07.029
McGinn PJ, Dickinson KE, Bhatti S, Frigon J-C, Guiot SR, O’Leary SJ (2011) Integration of microalgae cultivation with industrial waste remediation for biofuel and bioenergy production: opportunities and limitations. Photosynth Res 109(1–3):231–247. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-011-9638-0
Mehta SK, Gaur JP (2005) Use of algae for removing heavy metal ions from wastewater: progress and prospects. Crit Rev Biotechnol 25(3):113–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/07388550500248571
Michel K, Eisentraeger A (2004) Light-emitting diodes for the illumination of algae in ecotoxicity testing. Environ Toxicol 19(6):609–613. https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.20069
Mines RO, Lackey L (2009) Introduction to environmental engineering. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River
Moawad S (1968) Inhibition of coliform bacteria by algal population in microoxidation ponds. Environ Health 10(2):106–112
Mohan SV, Mohanakrishna G, Srikanth S (2011) Chapter 22—biohydrogen production from industrial effluents. In: Pandey A, Larroche C, Ricke SC, Dussap C-G, Gnansounou E (eds) Biofuels. Academic Press, Amsterdam, pp 499–524. ISBN: 9780123850997
Molazadeh M, Ahmadzadeh H, Pourianfar HR, Lyon S, Rampelotto PH (2019) The use of microalgae for coupling wastewater treatment with CO2 biofixation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00042
Moreno-Garrido I (2008) Microalgae immobilization: current techniques and uses. Bioresour Technol 99(10):3949–3964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.05.040
Mudhoo A, Garg VK, Wang S (2012) Removal of heavy metals by biosorption. Environ Chem Lett 10(2):109–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-011-0342-2
Murata N, Takahashi S, Nishiyama Y, Allakhverdiev SI (2007) Photoinhibition of photosystem II under environmental stress. Biochim Biophys (BBA) Acta Bioenerg 1767(6):414–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbabio.2006.11.019
Ngo HH, Vo HNP, Guo W, Bui X-T, Nguyen PD, Nguyen TMH, Zhang X (2019) Advances of photobioreactors in wastewater treatment: engineering aspects, applications and future perspectives. In: Bui X-T, Chiemchaisri C, Fujioka T, Varjani S (eds) Water and wastewater treatment technologies. Springer, Singapore, pp 297–329. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3259-3_14
Norsker NH, Barbosa MJ, Vermuë MH, Wijffels RH (2011) Microalgal production—a close look at the economics. Biotechnol Adv 29(1):24–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2010.08.005
Orellana G, Cano-Raya C, López-Gejo J, Santos AR (2011) 3.10—Online monitoring sensors. In: Wilderer P (ed) Treatise on water science. Elsevier, Oxford, pp 221–261. ISBN: 9780444531933, eBook ISBN: 9780444531995
Oswald WJ (1996) A syllabus on advanced integrated pond systems. University of California, Berkeley
Oswald WJ, Golueke CG (1960) Biological transformation of solar energy. In: Advances in applied microbiology, vol 2. Elsevier, pp 223–262
Palmer CM (1969) A composite rating of algae tolerating organic pollution 2. J Phycol 5(1):78–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.1969.tb02581.x
Park J, Craggs R (2010) Wastewater treatment and algal production in high rate algal ponds with carbon dioxide addition. Water Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.951
Park J, Craggs R (2011) Nutrient removal in wastewater treatment high rate algal ponds with carbon dioxide addition. Water Sci Technol 63(8):1758–1764. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2013.861855
Pavithra KG, Kumar PS, Jaikumar V, Vardhan KH, SundarRajan P (2020) Microalgae for biofuel production and removal of heavy metals: a review. Environ Chem Lett 18(6):1905–1923. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01046-1
Pearson H, Mara D, Mills S, Smallman D (1987) Physico-chemical parameters influencing faecal bacterial survival in waste stabilization ponds. Water Sci Technol 19(12):145–152
Peña M, Mara D (2004) Waste stabilisation ponds, vol 37. IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, The Hague
Phang S-M, Chu W-L, Rabiei R (2015) Phycoremediation. In: Sahoo D, Seckbach J (eds) The algae world. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 357–389. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11091759
Płaczek M, Patyna A, Witczak S (2017) Technical evaluation of photobioreactors for microalgae cultivation, E3S web of conferences. EDP Sciences, Les Ulis. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20171902032
Ras M, Steyer J-P, Bernard O (2013) Temperature effect on microalgae: a crucial factor for outdoor production. Rev Environ Sci Bio/technol 12(2):153–164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-013-9310-6
Roberts DA, de Nys R, Paul NA (2013) The effect of CO2 on algal growth in industrial waste water for bioenergy and bioremediation applications. PLoS ONE 8(11):e81631–e81631. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0081631
Rose P, Wells C, Dekker L, Clarke S, Neba A, Shipin O, Hart O (2007) Integrated algal ponding systems and the treatment of domestic and industrial wastewaters. Part 4: system performance and tertiary treatment operations. WRC report no. TT 193/07. Water Research Commission, Pretoria. ISBN No: 978-1-86845-890-5
Saad MG, Dosoky NS, Zoromba MS, Shafik HM (2019) Algal biofuels: current status and key challenges. Energies 12(10):1920. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12101920
Salama E-S, Kurade MB, Abou-Shanab RA, El-Dalatony MM, Yang I-S, Min B, Jeon B-H (2017) Recent progress in microalgal biomass production coupled with wastewater treatment for biofuel generation. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 79:1189–1211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-019-2648-3
Salama E-S, Roh H-S, Dev S, Khan MA, Abou-Shanab RAI, Chang SW, Jeon B-H (2019) Algae as a green technology for heavy metals removal from various wastewater. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 35(5):75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-019-2648-3
Sebastian S, Nair KVK (1984) Total removal of coliforms and E. coli from domestic sewage by high-rate pond mass culture of Scenedesmus obliquus. Environ Pollut Ser A Ecol Biol 34(3):197–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/0143-1471(84)90116-8
Sen B, Alp MT, Sonmez F, Kocer MAT, Canpolat O (2013) Relationship of algae to water pollution and waste water treatment. Water Treat. https://doi.org/10.5772/51927
Shelef G, Moraine R, Meydan A, Sandbank E (1977) Combined algae production-wastewater treatment and reclamation systems. In: Microbial energy conversion. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 427–442
Singh SP, Singh P (2014) Effect of CO2 concentration on algal growth: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 38:172–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.05.043
Singh SP, Singh P (2015) Effect of temperature and light on the growth of algae species: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 50:431–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.05.024
Su Y, Mennerich A, Urban B (2011) Municipal wastewater treatment and biomass accumulation with a wastewater-born and settleable algal-bacterial culture. Water Res 45(11):3351–3358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.03.046
Sunday ER, Uyi OJ, Caleb OO (2018) Phycoremediation: an eco-solution to environmental protection and sustainable remediation. J Chem Environ Biol Eng 2(1):5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.02.068
Teoh M-L, Phang S-M, Chu W-L (2013) Response of Antarctic, temperate, and tropical microalgae to temperature stress. J Appl Phycol 25(1):285–297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-012-9863-8
Ting H, Haifeng L, Shanshan M, Zhang Y, Zhidan L, Na D (2017) Progress in microalgae cultivation photobioreactors and applications in wastewater treatment: a review. Int J Agric Biol Eng 10(1):1–29. https://doi.org/10.3965/j.ijabe.20171001.2705
Ugwu CU, Aoyagi H, Uchiyama H (2008) Photobioreactors for mass cultivation of algae. Biores Technol 99(10):4021–4028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.01.046
Van Den Hende S, Beelen V, Bore G, Boon N, Vervaeren H (2014) Up-scaling aquaculture wastewater treatment by microalgal bacterial flocs: from lab reactors to an outdoor raceway pond. Bioresour Technol 159:342–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2011.11.105
Vandamme D, Foubert I, Fraeye I, Meesschaert B, Muylaert K (2012) Flocculation of Chlorella vulgaris induced by high pH: role of magnesium and calcium and practical implications. Biores Technol 105:114–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2011.11.105
Vassilev SV, Vassileva CG (2016) Composition, properties and challenges of algae biomass for biofuel application: an overview. Fuel 181:1–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2016.04.106
Wang C-Y, Fu C-C, Liu Y-C (2007) Effects of using light-emitting diodes on the cultivation of Spirulina platensis. Biochem Eng J 37(1):21–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2007.03.004
Whitton R, Ometto F, Pidou M, Jarvis P, Villa R, Jefferson B (2015) Microalgae for municipal wastewater nutrient remediation: mechanisms, reactors and outlook for tertiary treatment. Environ Technol Rev 4(1):133–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/21622515.2015.1105308
Yang J, Cao J, Xing G, Yuan H (2015) Lipid production combined with biosorption and bioaccumulation of cadmium, copper, manganese and zinc by oleaginous microalgae Chlorella minutissima UTEX2341. Biores Technol 175:537–544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2007.03.004
Zhang C, Wang X, Ma Z, Luan Z, Wang Y, Wang Z, Wang L (2020) Removal of phenolic substances from wastewater by algae. A review. Environ Chem Lett 18(2):377–392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-019-00953-2
Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by Bulgarian National Science Fund under Grant No. DN13/14/20.12.2017 and partially by the Operational Program “Science and Education for Smart Growth” 2014–2020, co-funded by the European Union through the European structural and investment funds: Project BG05M2OP001-1.002-0019 “Clean technologies for a sustainable environment—water, waste, energy for a circular economy” (Clean&Circle CoC) by funding of the expert's labor.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kaloudas, D., Pavlova, N. & Penchovsky, R. Phycoremediation of wastewater by microalgae: a review. Environ Chem Lett 19, 2905–2920 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-021-01203-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-021-01203-0