heavy metal removal (Zhou and Haynes 2010). In this context, Alga SORB is a
commercial product comprising of PAB to remove the HM ion from aqueous
solution. Another biosorbent, BIO-FIX, consisting of Sphagnum peat moss, algae
(Ulva sp.), bacteria, and fungus encapsulated in polysulfone has also been found to
have the potential to remove a variety of heavy metal ions. Thus available commercial technologies are dominated with adsorption process. Although microalgal
potential to absorb a variety of heavy metal ions is known, sustainability of process
is still under concern.
5 Conclusion
This review revealed the contribution of algal biomass for heavy metal removal from
wastewater. Low-cost cultivation and high HM ion uptake capacity, with suitable
environmental conditions (pH, temperature, contact time, etc.), make algae biomass
as a potential source for wastewater bioremediation. Microalgae, predominantly,
possess numerous considerable sequestering mechanism HM ions and hence are
demarcated as promising biosorbents. Several reports suggest their supremacy over
various traditional and physiochemical methods and their usefulness in large-scale
remediation of wastewater. Based on the biomass productivity of algae on wastewater is attractive dual-use algae cultivation coupled with other downstream or
hybrid production systems. A suitable and sustainable approach needs to be developed in the field to select the most appropriate biosorbents and favorable physical
conditions and to find out the major challenges involved. However, it is essential to
deliberate on various avenues of microalgal remediation technologies as eco-friendly
alternatives for a better environment.
Acknowledgment Authors want to acknowledge the University Grants Commission for the
necessary support in the accomplishment of the present work.
References
Ahalya N, Ramachandra TV, Kanamadi RD (2003) Biosorption of heavy metals. Res J Chem
Environ 7:71–78
Ahmad S, Pandey A, Kothari R, Pathak VV, Tyagi VV(2017) Closed photobioreactors: construction material and influencing parameters at the commercial scale. In: Photobioreactors advancement application and research. NOVA publication, pp149–162
Ahmad S, Pathak VV, Kothari R, Kumar A, Krishna SBN (2018) Optimization of nutrient stress
using C. pyrenoidosa for lipid and biodiesel production in integration with remediation in dairy
industry wastewater using response surface methodology. 3 Biotech 8(8):326
Ajayan KV, Selvaraju M, Thirugnanamoorthy K (2011) Growth and heavy metals accumulation
potential of microalgae grown in sewage wastewater and Petrochemical Effluents. Pakistan J
Biol Sci 14(16):805–811
3 Phycoremediation: Algae as Eco-friendly Tools for the Removal of Heavy. . .
71
commercial product comprising of PAB to remove the HM ion from aqueous
solution. Another biosorbent, BIO-FIX, consisting of Sphagnum peat moss, algae
(Ulva sp.), bacteria, and fungus encapsulated in polysulfone has also been found to
have the potential to remove a variety of heavy metal ions. Thus available commercial technologies are dominated with adsorption process. Although microalgal
potential to absorb a variety of heavy metal ions is known, sustainability of process
is still under concern.
5 Conclusion
This review revealed the contribution of algal biomass for heavy metal removal from
wastewater. Low-cost cultivation and high HM ion uptake capacity, with suitable
environmental conditions (pH, temperature, contact time, etc.), make algae biomass
as a potential source for wastewater bioremediation. Microalgae, predominantly,
possess numerous considerable sequestering mechanism HM ions and hence are
demarcated as promising biosorbents. Several reports suggest their supremacy over
various traditional and physiochemical methods and their usefulness in large-scale
remediation of wastewater. Based on the biomass productivity of algae on wastewater is attractive dual-use algae cultivation coupled with other downstream or
hybrid production systems. A suitable and sustainable approach needs to be developed in the field to select the most appropriate biosorbents and favorable physical
conditions and to find out the major challenges involved. However, it is essential to
deliberate on various avenues of microalgal remediation technologies as eco-friendly
alternatives for a better environment.
Acknowledgment Authors want to acknowledge the University Grants Commission for the
necessary support in the accomplishment of the present work.
References
Ahalya N, Ramachandra TV, Kanamadi RD (2003) Biosorption of heavy metals. Res J Chem
Environ 7:71–78
Ahmad S, Pandey A, Kothari R, Pathak VV, Tyagi VV(2017) Closed photobioreactors: construction material and influencing parameters at the commercial scale. In: Photobioreactors advancement application and research. NOVA publication, pp149–162
Ahmad S, Pathak VV, Kothari R, Kumar A, Krishna SBN (2018) Optimization of nutrient stress
using C. pyrenoidosa for lipid and biodiesel production in integration with remediation in dairy
industry wastewater using response surface methodology. 3 Biotech 8(8):326
Ajayan KV, Selvaraju M, Thirugnanamoorthy K (2011) Growth and heavy metals accumulation
potential of microalgae grown in sewage wastewater and Petrochemical Effluents. Pakistan J
Biol Sci 14(16):805–811
3 Phycoremediation: Algae as Eco-friendly Tools for the Removal of Heavy. . .
71