Application of microalgae in wastewater treatment and biomass recycling

Abstract:

Amid economic and population growth, environmental pollution and water shortage have become problems faced around the world. Microalgae-based wastewater treatment can purify wastewater to tackle environmental pollution. In addition, the microalgae also use nutrients in wastewater to synthesize biomass. Thus, the technique has been popular. For the sake of high efficiency and low cost in wastewater treatment, it is necessary to clarify the mechanism by which microalgae remove nutrients and pollutants in wastewater, to develop low-cost downstream harvesting technology, and to improve the production of high-value by-products of microalgae. In this paper, the mechanism by which microalgae remove carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, antibiotics, and organic matter and the influencing factors were reviewed, and the different harvesting methods of microalgae and the current applications of biomass in various fields were summarized. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of different microalgal co-culture systems and microalgal immobilization techniques were analyzed, and the development of microalgae-based wastewater technology was predicted.