Microalgal Approaches to Heavy Metal Bioremediation in Contaminated Environments
Abstract
The chapter introduces microalgae as environmentally friendly and effective agents in the removal of heavy metals in industrial wastewater.Traditional physicochemical methods are expensive, energy-consuming and also produce excessive amounts of sludge, which encourages the adoption of biological methods.The major benefits of microalgae are high CO2 uptake, low-cost biosorption, and easy growth using extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and cell-wall functional groups.The process of metal removal takes place in rapid passive biosorption and slow active bioaccumulation, which involves phytochelatins, transporters, metallothioneins, and intracellular sequestrating.Live algal biomass has been reported to have high removal efficiencies (up to 90%), Cu (83%), and complete removal of cadmium (VI).The existing shortcomings are low specificity of metals, temperature and pH sensitivity, and scale-up.Strain optimization, genetic modification and biomass immobilization are some strategies that enhance performance of the system.Combination with hybrid treatment technologies is an application avenue that can be taken practically in industry.
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