A potent insight into the microalgal and surface-modified magnetic microalgal biomass synthesis and treatment strategies in the removal of selenium and chromium metal ions

Abstract

Water pollution by heavy metal contaminants was emerging as a grave problem for the aquatic systems in the environment. Microalgae being photoautotrophic and heterotrophic are promising traits that provoke researchers to use them in treating industrial wastewater. Owing to the advantageous feature of biochar, microalgal biochar with chemical and biological modification was used in the production of value-added products, and their spent sorbent was used for bioremediation. The incorporation of microalgal biomass with magnetic nanoparticles will remove hazardous metals from the aquatic environment. Integration of microalgae with nanoparticles used in the removal of chromium and selenium metal ions was discussed in the present review with the removal mechanism. The economic perspectives, advantages and challenges of using the integral magnetic microalgal system in the treatment process were also evaluated in the present study providing insight for the researchers to use it in the large-scale applications of multi-pollutant removal.

Keywords

Metal contaminants / Microalgal biochar / Nanoparticles / Removal mechanism

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Funding

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India(141427/2K19/1)