From Waste to Resource: Algal–Bacterial Systems and Immobilization Techniques in Aquaculture Effluent Treatment

Jiangqi Qu, Ruijun Ren, Zhanhui Wu, Jie Huang and Qingjing Zhang ()
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Jiangqi Qu: Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Fisheries Science Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100068, China
Ruijun Ren: Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Fisheries Science Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100068, China
Zhanhui Wu: Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Fisheries Science Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100068, China
Jie Huang: Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Fisheries Science Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100068, China
Qingjing Zhang: Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Fisheries Science Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100068, China

Clean Technol., 2025, vol. 7, issue 4, 1-35

Abstract: The rapid expansion of global aquaculture has led to wastewater enriched with nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter, antibiotics, and heavy metals, posing serious risks such as eutrophication, ecological imbalance, and public health threats. Conventional physical, chemical, and biological treatments face limitations including high cost, secondary pollution, and insufficient efficiency, limiting sustainable wastewater management. Algal–bacterial symbiotic systems (ABSS) provide a sustainable alternative, coupling the metabolic complementarity of microalgae and bacteria for effective pollutant mitigation and concurrent biomass valorization. Immobilizing microbial consortia within carrier materials enhances system stability, tolerance to environmental changes, and scalability. This review systematically summarizes the pollution characteristics and ecological risks of aquaculture effluents, highlighting the limitations of conventional treatment methods. It focuses on the metabolic cooperation within ABSS, including nutrient cycling and pollutant degradation, the impact of environmental factors, and the role of immobilization carriers in enhancing system performance and biomass resource valorization. Despite their potential, ABSS still face challenges related to mass transfer limitations, complex microbial interactions, and difficulties in scale-up. Future research should focus on improving environmental adaptability, regulating microbial dynamics, designing intelligent and cost-effective carriers, and developing modular engineering systems to enable robust and scalable solutions for sustainable aquaculture wastewater treatment.

Keywords: aquaculture effluents; ABSS; pollutant removal; immobilization technology; sustainable wastewater treatment; resource recovery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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