Algae Used in Achieving Carbon Neutrality by Treating Wastewater

Yongsen Tang

doi:10.54097/v8tjht95

Authors

Yongsen Tang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/v8tjht95

Keywords:

Algae; wastewater treatment; photobioreactors; carbon neutralization.

Abstract

Many countries are committed to carbon neutrality, especially in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and mitigating the greenhouse effect. Wastewater treatment is also a growing concern in many countries, especially in recent years when many new pollutants have emerged in sewage, posing certain challenges to sewage treatment projects. Algae have advantages of high photosynthetic efficiency and high carbon sequestration capacity. Algae can also treat different pollutants in wastewater. Algae are also important raw materials for biofuels. The purpose of this review is to discuss the application of algae in wastewater treatment and the impact of algae itself and its processed products on carbon neutrality. This review first outlines different algae cultivation systems, including open pond system and closed photobioreactor system, then discusses the application of algae in treating different types of wastes, for example, nitrogen and phosphorus elements, heavy metal elements, and emerging contaminants. Finally, this review discusses the impact of combining algae with wastewater treatment on carbon neutrality.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] Seyedeh Fatemeh Mohsenpour, Sebastian Hennige, Nicholas Willoughby, et al. Integrating Micro-Algae into Wastewater Treatment: A Review. Science of The Total Environment, 2021, 752: 142168.

[2] Katarzyna Kipigroch, Marta Janosz-Rajczyk, Beata Skowron-Grabowska. The Use of Algae in the Removal of Cd and Cu in the Process of Wastewater Recovery. Desalination and Water Treatment, 2016, 57(3): 1508–1514.

[3] Katarzyna Kipigroch. The Use of Algae to Remove Zinc and Lead from Industrial Wastewater. Desalination and Water Treatment, 2020, 199: 323–330.

[4] Jayaprabakar Jayaraman, J. Kumaraswamy, Yarrapragada K.S.S. Rao, M. Karthick, et al. Wastewater Treatment by Algae-Based Membrane Bioreactors: A Review of the Arrangement of a Membrane Reactor, Physico-Chemical Properties, Advantages and Challenges. RSC Advances, 2024, 14(47): 34769–34790.

[5] Shaikh Abdur Razzak, Saad Aldin M. Ali, Mohammad Mozahar Hossain, et al. Biological CO2 Fixation with Production of Microalgae in Wastewater – A Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017, 76: 379–390.

[6] Zhuo Xie, Xiaoyu Zhao, Yuanyuan Jia, et al. Wastewater Treatment Performance of Algal Species Isolated from Algal-Bacterial Granular Sludge. Bioresource Technology Reports, 2025, 30: 102111.

[7] Ashfaq Ahmad, Fawzi Banat, Habiba Alsafar, et al. Algae Biotechnology for Industrial Wastewater Treatment, Bioenergy Production, and High-Value Bioproducts. Science of The Total Environment, 2022, 806: 150585.

[8] Qingshan Huang, Fuhua Jiang, Lianzhou Wang, et al. Design of Photobioreactors for Mass Cultivation of Photosynthetic Organisms. Engineering, 2017, 3(3): 318–329.

[9] Zubair Hashmi, Ibrahim Maina idriss, Juliana Haji Zaini, et al. Advancements in Photobioreactor Systems: Optimizing Operations for Enhanced Microalgal Growth and Bioremediation. Algal Research, 2025: 104282.

[10] Shaikh Abdur Razzak, Khairul Bahar, K. M. Oajedul Islam, et al. Microalgae Cultivation in Photobioreactors: Sustainable Solutions for a Greener Future. Green Chemical Engineering, 2024, 5(4): 418–439.

[11] Cesar E. Najar-Almanzor, Karla D. Velasco-Iglesias, Minerva Solis-Bañuelos, et al. Chlorella Vulgaris-Mediated Bioremediation of Food and Beverage Wastewater from Industries in Mexico: Results and Perspectives towards Sustainability and Circular Economy. Science of The Total Environment, 2024, 940: 173753.

[12] S. Rossi, A. Pizzera, M. Bellucci, et al. Piggery Wastewater Treatment with Algae-Bacteria Consortia: Pilot-Scale Validation and Techno-Economic Evaluation at Farm Level. Bioresource Technology, 2022, 351: 127051.

[13] Zohra Djezzar, Amel Aidi, Hanane Rehali, Sbarina Ziad et al. Characterization of Activated Carbon Produced from the Green Algae Spirogyra Used as a Cost-Effective Adsorbent for Enhanced Removal of Copper(Ii): Application in Industrial Wastewater Treatment. RSC Advances, 2024, 14(8): 5276–5289.

[14] Katarzyna Kipigroch, Marta Janosz-Rajczyk, Beata Skowron-Grabowska. The Use of Algae in the Removal of Cd and Cu in the Process of Wastewater Recovery. Desalination and Water Treatment, 2016, 57(3): 1508–1514.

[15] Katarzyna Kipigroch. The Use of Algae to Remove Zinc and Lead from Industrial Wastewater. Desalination and Water Treatment, 2020, 199: 323–330.

[16] Shengnan Li, Pau Loke Show, Huu Hao Ngo, et al. Algae-Mediated Antibiotic Wastewater Treatment: A Critical Review. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, 2022, 9: 100145.

[17] Ting Wang, Shali Ai, Yaoyu Zhou, et al. Adsorption of Agricultural Wastewater Contaminated with Antibiotics, Pesticides and Toxic Metals by Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2018, 6(5): 6468–6478.

[18] P. Mullai, S. Vishali, E. Sobiya Studies on the Application of Algae Biomass as an Adsorbent in the Treatment of Industrial Azadirachtin Insecticide Wastewater. Desalination and Water Treatment, 2022, 251: 7–17.

[19] Manish Kumar, Naushad Ahmad Ansari, Raghvendra Gautam. Algae Biodiesel as a Alternative Green Fuel: A Futuristic Scope. Cleaner Chemical Engineering, 2025, 11: 100178.

[20] Kuber Singh Mehra, Iyman Abrar, Ravi Kant Bhatia, et al. A Comprehensive Review of Algae Consortium for Wastewater Bioremediation anA Comprehensive Review of Algae Consortium for Wastewater Bioremediation and Biodiesel Production. Energy Conversion and Management, 2025, 325: 119428.

[21] D. Christopher Selvam, T. Raja, Beemkumar Nagappan, et al. The Role of Biodiesel in Marine Decarbonization: Technological Innovations and Ocean Engineering Challenges. Results in Engineering, 2025, 25: 103974.