Algal Bioremediation of heavy metals: An insight into removal mechanisms, recovery of by-products, challenges, and future opportunities

Chugh, Mohita; Kumar, Lakhan; Shah, Maulin P.; Bharadvaja, Navneeta

doi:10.1016/j.nexus.2022.100129

Cited by 98 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 107 publications

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“…A range of antibiotics belonging to classes such as tetracyclines, cephalosporins, macrolides, penicillins, and beta-lactams have been degraded using microalgae with varied efficiency ( Chandel et al., 2022 ; Wang et al., 2022 ). Similarly, microalgae remove heavy metals from effluents through the phenomenon of bio adsorption and bioaccumulation followed by chelation and vacuolar sequestration or biotransformation utilizing special intracellular chelating agents called ‘phytochelatins’ ( Chugh et al., 2022 ). Although the ability of microalgae to remediate xenobiotics, heavy metals have been demonstrated, there are no pilot scale studies involved on the additive toxicity of microalgae biomass enriched with a heavy metal or a bio transformed molecules.…”

Section: Production Of Microalgae Based Bio Fertilizers and Biostimul...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microalgae as next generation plant growth additives: Functions, applications, challenges and circular bioeconomy based solutions

2023

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Sustainable agriculture practices involve the application of environment-friendly plant growth promoters and additives that do not negatively impact the health of the ecosystem. Stringent regulatory frameworks restricting the use of synthetic agrochemicals and the increase in demand for organically grown crops have paved the way for the development of novel bio-based plant growth promoters. In this context, microalgae biomass and derived agrochemicals offer novel sources of plant growth promotors that enhance crop productivity and impart disease resistance. These beneficial effects could be attributed to the presence of wide range of biomolecules such as soluble amino acid (AA), micronutrients, polysaccharides, phytohormones and other signaling molecules in microalgae biomass. In addition, their phototrophic nature, high photosynthetic efficiency, and wide environmental adaptability make them an attractive source of biostimulants, biofertilizers and biopesticides. The present review aims to describe the various plant growth promoting metabolites produced by microalgae and their effects on plant growth and productivity. Further, the effects elicited by microalgae biostimulants with respect to different modes of applications such as seed treatments, foliar spray and soil/root drenching is reviewed in detail. In addition, the ability of microalgae metabolites to impart tolerance against various abiotic and biotic stressors along with the mechanism of action is discussed in this paper. Although the use of microalgae based biofertilizers and biostimulants is gaining popularity, the high nutrient and water requirements and energy intensive downstream processes makes microalgae based technology commercially unsustainable. Addressing this challenge, we propose a circular economy model of microalgae mediated bioremediation coupled with biorefinery approaches of generating high value metabolites along with biofertilizer applications. We discuss and review new trends in enhancing the sustainability of microalgae biomass production by co-cultivation of algae with hydroponics and utilization of agriculture effluents.

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Section: Production Of Microalgae Based Bio Fertilizers and Biostimul...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microalgae as next generation plant growth additives: Functions, applications, challenges and circular bioeconomy based solutions

2023

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“…When compared with microbial organisms such as yeast and different fungi, algae prove to be the most efficient adsorbent for HM removal [ 6 ]. Algae are excellent bio-remediators because of their high tolerance capacity, high binding affinity, large surface area, and eco-friendly and reusable features [ 40 ]. Algal-based treatment is more convenient because algae can be used for many biotechnological applications, such as carbon reduction, biofuel generation, and bioremediation of impurities [ 1 ].…”

Section: Algal-based Heavy Metal Removalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanidiales-Based Bioremediation of Heavy Metals

Kharel

Shrestha

Tan

et al. 2023

BioTech

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With growing urbanization and ongoing development activities, the consumption of heavy metals has been increasing globally. Although heavy metals are vital for the survival of living beings, they can become hazardous when they surpass the permissible limit. The effect of heavy metals varies from normal to acute depending on the individual, so it is necessary to treat the heavy metals before releasing them into the environment. Various conventional treatment technologies have been used based on physical, chemical, and biological methods. However, due to technical and economic constraints and poor sustainability towards the environment, the use of these technologies has been limited. Microalgal-based heavy metal removal has been explored for the past few decades and has been seen as an effective, environment-friendly, and inexpensive method compared to conventional treatment technology. Cyanidiales that belong to red algae have the potential for remediation of heavy metals as they can withstand and tolerate extreme stresses of heat, acid salts, and heavy metals. Cyanidiales are the only photosynthetic organisms that can survive and thrive in acidic mine drainage, where heavy metal contamination is often prevalent. This review focuses on the algal species belonging to three genera of Cyanidiales: Cyanidioschyzon, Cyanidium, and Galdieria. Papers published after 2015 were considered in order to examine these species’ efficiency in heavy metal removal. The result is summarized as maximum removal efficiency at the optimum experimental conditions and based on the parameters affecting the metal ion removal efficiency. This study finds that pH, initial metal concentration, initial algal biomass concentration, algal strains, and growth temperature are the major parameters that affect the heavy metal removal efficiency of Cyanidiales.

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“…Algae-based biorefinery has the potential to incorporate numerous technologies to produce green fuel including biodiesel, bioethanol, gasoline, methane, and other high-value compounds like fats, eicosatetraenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, dyes/pigments (β-carotene/lutein/ astaxanthin), antioxidants and carbohydrates. Theoretically, biorefinery would cultivate algae on a farm followed by biodiesel, bio-oil, bioethanol, biomethane, and biohydrogen (Chugh et al, 2022;Wang et al, 2008;Karpanai Selvan et al, 2022). Some of the biorefinerybased products are discussed in Table 4 below.…”

Section: Biorefinery Approach or Zero Waste Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review on unit operations, challenges, opportunities, and strategies to improve algal based biodiesel and biorefinery

Kumar

Mohan²,

Anand³

et al. 2022

Front. Chem. Eng.

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Globally, the demand for energy is increasing with an emphasis on green fuels for a sustainable future. As the urge for alternative fuels is accelerating, microalgae have emerged as a promising source that can not only produce high lipid but many other platform chemicals. Moreover, it is a better alternative in comparison to conventional feedstock due to yearlong easy and mass cultivation, carbon fixation, and value-added products extraction. To date, numerous studies have been done to elucidate these organisms for large-scale fuel production. However, enhancing the lipid synthesis rate and reducing the production cost still remain a major bottleneck for its economic viability. Therefore, this study compiles information on algae-based biodiesel production with an emphasis on its unit operations from strain selection to biofuel production. Additionally, strategies to enhance lipid accumulation by incorporating genetic, and metabolic engineering and the use of leftover biomass for harnessing bio-products have been discussed. Besides, implementing a biorefinery for extracting oil followed by utilizing leftover biomass to generate value-added products such as nanoparticles, biofertilizers, biochar, and biopharmaceuticals has also been discussed.

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Algal Bioremediation of heavy metals: An insight into removal mechanisms, recovery of by-products, challenges, and future opportunities

Cited by 98 publications

References 107 publications

Microalgae as next generation plant growth additives: Functions, applications, challenges and circular bioeconomy based solutions

Microalgae as next generation plant growth additives: Functions, applications, challenges and circular bioeconomy based solutions

Cyanidiales-Based Bioremediation of Heavy Metals

A review on unit operations, challenges, opportunities, and strategies to improve algal based biodiesel and biorefinery

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