Valorization of algal cells for biomass and bioenergy production from wastewater: Sustainable strategies, challenges, and techno-economic limitations

Ahmed Tawfik, Haider Niaz, Kinza Qadeer, Muhammad Abdul Qyyum, J. Jay Liu and Moonyong Lee

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2022, vol. 157, issue C

Abstract: Microalgae-based technologies mitigate the adverse impact of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by facilitating CO2 consumption. The pollutants in wastewater can be efficiently utilized for algal growth to recover resources, reduce GHGs, produce bioenergy, and achieve zero-liquid wastewater discharge. However, algal cell separation, prolonged retention time, evaporation, excess amount of sludge, low-efficiency of organic matter removal, and release of particulate matter in the treated effluent hinder the implementation of this technology. This review comprehensively discusses these issues and proposes technology based on biofilm producing algae as sustainable solutions to overcome these barriers. Furthermore, the challenges and limitations of the bacterial and microalgae synergy for removing xenobiotics are discussed. Photo degradation, bioaccumulation, and biodegradation in the algae-bacteria system are the primary mechanisms of xenobiotic removal. Additionally, emphasis is placed on algal biomass harvesting for recovery of bioenergy (such as bio-ethanol, bio-hydrogen, biogas, and bio-diesel), improved metabolism, and removal of excess nutrients. Algal cells produce enzymes for biodegradation and transformation of toxic contaminants into less harmful metabolites/moieties. Techno-economic limitations and microalgae-based CO2 bio-fixation to minimize GHG emissions are also discussed. The GHG abatement credits would help overcome high energy prices and high costs of the wastewater treatment technologies and make the algal culture technologies economically viable.

Keywords: Xenobiotic compounds; Micro-pollutants; Enzyme activity; Biomass; Bioenergy; Algae-based wastewater treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.112024

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