Chapter 3
Phycoremediation: Algae as Eco-friendly
Tools for the Removal of Heavy Metals from
Wastewaters
Shamshad Ahmad, Arya Pandey, Vinayak Vandan Pathak,
Vineet Veer Tyagi, and Richa Kothari
Abstract Phycoremediation is a potential tool to eradicate the excess toxics (heavy
metal and organic contaminants) from the industrial waste stream. The algal species
are a promising, eco-friendly, and sustainable move toward a possible advantage to
enhance the algal cultivation which in turn magnifies the economics of algal-based
value-added products. Therefore, algae have been documented as a sustainable and
inexpensive vector for detoxification of noxious waste-loaded industrial waste
stream. Algal species may bind up to 10% of their biomass as metals. Various
physical and chemical methods used for this purpose suffer from serious limitations
like high cost, high energy input, alteration of basic properties, and disturbance in
native flora. In contrast, phycoremediation provides a new insight/dimension for this
problem by perceiving it as cost-effective, efficient, novel, eco-friendly, and solardriven technology with good public acceptance. The mechanism for the removal of
heavy metal through alga works on the principle of adsorption onto the cell surface
which is independent of cell metabolism and absorption or intracellular uptake
which depends on cell metabolism. So, their ability to adsorb and metabolize is
associated with their large surface/volume ratios; the presence of high-affinity,
metal-binding groups on their cell surfaces; and efficient metal uptake and storage
systems. Hence, the present review article deals with the basic mechanism of
S. Ahmad · A. Pandey
Bioenergy and Wastewater Treatment Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences,
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,
India
V. V. Pathak
Department of Chemistry, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, Haryana, India
V. V. Tyagi
Department of Energy Management, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra,
Jammu and Kashmir, India
R. Kothari (*)
Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jammu, RahyaSuchani (Bagla),
Samba, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
R. N. Bharagava, G. Saxena (eds.), Bioremediation of Industrial Waste for
Environmental Safety, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3426-9_3
53
Phycoremediation: Algae as Eco-friendly
Tools for the Removal of Heavy Metals from
Wastewaters
Shamshad Ahmad, Arya Pandey, Vinayak Vandan Pathak,
Vineet Veer Tyagi, and Richa Kothari
Abstract Phycoremediation is a potential tool to eradicate the excess toxics (heavy
metal and organic contaminants) from the industrial waste stream. The algal species
are a promising, eco-friendly, and sustainable move toward a possible advantage to
enhance the algal cultivation which in turn magnifies the economics of algal-based
value-added products. Therefore, algae have been documented as a sustainable and
inexpensive vector for detoxification of noxious waste-loaded industrial waste
stream. Algal species may bind up to 10% of their biomass as metals. Various
physical and chemical methods used for this purpose suffer from serious limitations
like high cost, high energy input, alteration of basic properties, and disturbance in
native flora. In contrast, phycoremediation provides a new insight/dimension for this
problem by perceiving it as cost-effective, efficient, novel, eco-friendly, and solardriven technology with good public acceptance. The mechanism for the removal of
heavy metal through alga works on the principle of adsorption onto the cell surface
which is independent of cell metabolism and absorption or intracellular uptake
which depends on cell metabolism. So, their ability to adsorb and metabolize is
associated with their large surface/volume ratios; the presence of high-affinity,
metal-binding groups on their cell surfaces; and efficient metal uptake and storage
systems. Hence, the present review article deals with the basic mechanism of
S. Ahmad · A. Pandey
Bioenergy and Wastewater Treatment Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences,
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,
India
V. V. Pathak
Department of Chemistry, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, Haryana, India
V. V. Tyagi
Department of Energy Management, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra,
Jammu and Kashmir, India
R. Kothari (*)
Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jammu, RahyaSuchani (Bagla),
Samba, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
R. N. Bharagava, G. Saxena (eds.), Bioremediation of Industrial Waste for
Environmental Safety, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3426-9_3
53