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The Environmental Biorefinery: Using Microalgae to Remediate Wastewater, a Win-Win Paradigm

Author

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  • Florian Delrue

    (CEA Cadarache, Groupe Biomasse 3G, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance F-13108, France)

  • Pablo David Álvarez-Díaz

    (CEA Cadarache, Groupe Biomasse 3G, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance F-13108, France)

  • Sophie Fon-Sing

    (Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7281 Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Ingénierie des Protéines, 31 Chemin Joseph AIguier, Marseille F-13402, France)

  • Gatien Fleury

    (CEA Cadarache, Groupe Biomasse 3G, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance F-13108, France)

  • Jean-François Sassi

    (CEA Cadarache, Groupe Biomasse 3G, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance F-13108, France)

Abstract

Microalgae have been shown to be a source of multiple bio-based products ranging from high value molecules to commodities. Along with their potential to produce a large variety of products, microalgae can also be used for the depollution of wastewaters of different origins (urban, industrial, and agricultural). This paper is focused on the importance of harnessing the bioremediation capacity of microalgae to treat wastewaters in order to develop the microalgae industry (especially the microalgae biofuel industry) and to find other alternatives to the classic wastewater treatment processes. The current research on the potential of microalgae to treat a specific wastewater or a targeted pollutant is reviewed and discussed. Then, both strategies of selecting the best microalgae strain to treat a specific wastewater or pollutant and using a natural or an artificial consortium to perform the treatment will be detailed. The process options for treating wastewaters using microalgae will be discussed up to the final valorization of the biomass. The last part is dedicated to the challenges which research need to address in order to develop the potential of microalgae to treat wastewaters.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Delrue & Pablo David Álvarez-Díaz & Sophie Fon-Sing & Gatien Fleury & Jean-François Sassi, 2016. "The Environmental Biorefinery: Using Microalgae to Remediate Wastewater, a Win-Win Paradigm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2016:i:3:p:132-:d:64441
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Niaz Ali Khan & Muhammad Humayun & Muhammad Usman & Zahid Ali Ghazi & Abdul Naeem & Abbas Khan & Asim Laeeq Khan & Asif Ali Tahir & Habib Ullah, 2021. "Structural Characteristics and Environmental Applications of Covalent Organic Frameworks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-21, April.
    3. Sandeep Panda & Srabani Mishra & Ata Akcil & Mehmet Ali Kucuker, 2021. "Microalgal potential for nutrient-energy-wastewater nexus: Innovations, current trends and future directions," Energy & Environment, , vol. 32(4), pages 604-634, June.
    4. Sigrid Kusch-Brandt & Mohammad A. T. Alsheyab, 2021. "Wastewater Refinery: Producing Multiple Valuable Outputs from Wastewater," J, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-11, February.
    5. Kah Aik Tan & Japareng Lalung & Norhashimah Morad & Norli Ismail & Wan Maznah Wan Omar & Moonis Ali Khan & Mika Sillanpää & Mohd Rafatullah, 2021. "Post-Treatment of Palm Oil Mill Effluent Using Immobilised Green Microalgae Chlorococcum oleofaciens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, October.
    6. Singh, Kripal & Ansari, Faiz Ahmad & Ingle, Kapilkumar Nivrutti & Gupta, Sanjay Kumar & Ahirwal, Jitendra & Dhyani, Shalini & Singh, Shraddha & Abhilash, P.C. & Rawat, Ismael & Byun, Chaeho & Bux, Fai, 2023. "Microalgae from wastewaters to wastelands: Leveraging microalgal research conducive to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    7. Emanuele La Bella & Paride Salvatore Occhipinti & Ivana Puglisi & Ferdinando Fragalà & Rossella Saccone & Nunziatina Russo & Cinzia Lucia Randazzo & Cinzia Caggia & Andrea Baglieri, 2023. "Comparative Phycoremediation Performance of Three Microalgae Species in Two Different Magnitude of Pollutants in Wastewater from Farmhouse," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-17, July.
    8. Alla Silkina & Naomi E. Ginnever & Fleuriane Fernandes & Claudio Fuentes-Grünewald, 2019. "Large-Scale Waste Bio-Remediation Using Microalgae Cultivation as a Platform," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-17, July.
    9. Qiu, Shuang & Wang, Lingfeng & Champagne, Pascale & Cao, Guihua & Chen, Zhipeng & Wang, Shuying & Ge, Shijian, 2019. "Effects of crystalline nanocellulose on wastewater-cultivated microalgal separation and biomass composition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 207-217.
    10. Esveidi Montserrat Valdovinos-García & Juan Barajas-Fernández & María de los Ángeles Olán-Acosta & Moisés Abraham Petriz-Prieto & Adriana Guzmán-López & Micael Gerardo Bravo-Sánchez, 2020. "Techno-Economic Study of CO 2 Capture of a Thermoelectric Plant Using Microalgae ( Chlorella vulgaris ) for Production of Feedstock for Bioenergy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    11. Ricardo N. Coimbra & Carla Escapa & Marta Otero, 2019. "Comparative Thermogravimetric Assessment on the Combustion of Coal, Microalgae Biomass and Their Blend," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-22, August.

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