Microalgal Systems: Exploring the Symbiotic Synergies Through Organic Wastewater Bioremediation for Environmental Stewardship

Abstract

Global estimates specify 450 billion m3 of annual water consumption in industrial and domestic use. Approximately, 60% of wastewater generated from these applications is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus along with other trace elements and can be used as a substrate for microalgal growth to produce ∼23.5 billion tons of oil. The processing of various categories of wastewater through conventional physico-chemical or non-microalgal approaches could either be energy-intensive or unproductive. Improvement and optimization of an integrated system for microalgae delivering a sustainable cost-effective approach towards wastewater bioremediation along with simultaneous creation of commercially value-added products is of prime concern. This chapter deeply portrays the latest developments specifying wastewater characteristics, pretreatment strategies, technological prerequisites for the efficacious amalgamation of various wastewater treatments coupled with substantial microalgal cultivation systems emphasizing the various mechanisms of microalgae-mediated pollutant elimination, prospects of the treatment of diverse varieties of wastewaters using microalgal bioremediation and evaluation of capital and operational expenditures for large-scale industrial applications.