Wastewater Treatment With Algae

This book brings together environmental scientists and engineers to discuss the development of new approaches and methodologies which utilize microalgae for biological wastewater treatment. The researchers report their recent findings on microalgal removal of nutrients, heavy metals and other organic pollutants from sewage and industrial effluents. The technologies discussed here include biosorption and bioaccumulation of heavy metals, cell immobilization of algae, and mathematical modelling of metal uptake by cells. This book is unique in that it takes a practical approach to the subject matter and is a useful reference both in and outside of the laboratory.

This book deals with the most emerging aspects of algal research with special reference to microalgae viz; diversity, mutations, genomics and metagenomics study, eco-physiology, culturing, microalgae for food and feed, biofuel production, harvesting of microalgae, separation, and purification of biochemicals, techno-economical assessment, microalgal biotechnology, algal-bacterial systems for wastewater treatment. It describes the complex issues associated with the above-mentioned areas with the intervention of cutting-edge biotechnological tools and techniques like next-generation sequencing methods, metabolomics, and bioreactor design and development. The chapters provide past developments, current information and future prospects of algal technology as an alternate avenue for waste water treatment and its potential for production of biofuel and nutraceuticals.

This two-volume work presents comprehensive, accurate information on the present status and contemporary development in phycoremediation of various types of domestic and industrial wastewaters. The volume covers a mechanistic understanding of microalgae based treatment of wastewaters, including current challenges in the treatment of various organic and inorganic pollutants, and future opportunities of bioremediation of wastewater and industrial effluents on an algal platform. The editors compile the work of authors from around the globe, providing insight on key issues and state-of-the-art developments in algal bioremediation that is missing from the currently available body of literature. The volume hopes to serve as a much needed resource for professors, researchers and scientists interested in microalgae applications for wastewater treatment. Volume 2 addresses the various biorefinery aspects and applications of algal-based wastewater treatment in industrial and domestic contexts. The analyses are approached from multiple perspectives, including biotechnology, commercial, economic, and sustainability. The authors discuss the potential of microalgae for integrated biomass production utilizing various resources to treat wastewaters, and include evaluations of the economical and commercialization potential for such processes.

Integrated Wastewater Management and Valorization using Algal Cultures provides a holistic view on coupled wastewater treatment and biomass production for energy and value-added products using algal cultures. Algal cultures provide low-cost nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) treatment and recovery from wastewaters, carbon-dioxide sequestration from waste gases, value-added generation in the form of bio-energy and bio-based chemicals, biosorption of heavy metals and biogas upgrading. The book addresses all these aspects in terms of role of algal cultures in environmental sustainability and circular economy. The production of high value products is addressed through pretreatment and anaerobic co-digestion of wastewater-derived microalgal biomass and microalgal biorefineries. The simultaneous dissolution and uptake of nutrients in microalgal treatment of anaerobic digestate is discussed, as is coupled electrocoagulation and algal cultivation for the treatment of anaerobic digestate and algal biomass production. Finally, optimization of algal biomass production is discussed using metagenomics and machine learning tools, and scale-up potential and the limitations of integrated wastewater-derived microalgal biorefineries is discussed. Integrated Wastewater Management and Valorization using Algal Cultures offers an integrated resource on wastewater treatment, biomass production, bioenergy and value-added product generation for researchers in bioenergy and renewable energy, environmental science and wastewater treatment, as well as environmental and chemical engineering. Comprehensively covers methods of wastewater treatment by algal cultivation and algal utilization Integrates the applications of algal cultures across wastewater treatment, nutrient recycling, CO2 sequestration, bio-energy and bio-based product generation Provides several international case studies to showcase actual algae-based pilot projects and facilities

Over 80% of globally produced wastewater receives little or no treatment before it is disposed into the environment. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new wastewater treatment technologies that are sustainable in the broad sense of the word, i.e. not only produce high quality effluents, but also minimise energy expenses, recover energy and nutrients, and apply technology that is appropriate in relation to the availability of skilled personnel. This book compiles the main outcomes of recent efforts to improve the design of waste stabilisation ponds, and confirms the superior performance of high rate algal ponds as a result of process intensification. Anaerobic digestion devoted to biogas production continues to be the preferred strategy for the energy valorisation of the algal biomass, co-digestion with multiple high C/N ratio substrates gathering significant attention over the past years. The potential of algal biomass as a biosorbent for heavy metal removal (Cu, Ni, F) maintains its share in the research field of water bioremediation, while research on nutrient removal has focused on providing new insights on the mechanism of nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater in algal–bacterial systems. Finally, it is worth noticing that breakthroughs in complementary fields of research such as nanotechnology or lighting technology are gradually being implemented in algal biotechnology, with new products such as nanoparticles for water disinfection or photobioreactors illuminated by low intensity LED panels. In Focus – a book series that showcases the latest accomplishments in water research. Each book focuses on a specialist area with papers from top experts in the field. It aims to be a vehicle for in-depth understanding and inspire further conversations in the sector.

This two-volume work presents comprehensive, accurate information on the present status and contemporary development in phycoremediation of various types of domestic and industrial wastewaters. The volume covers a mechanistic understanding of microalgae based treatment of wastewaters, including current challenges in the treatment of various organic and inorganic pollutants, and future opportunities of bioremediation of wastewater and industrial effluents on an algal platform. The editors compile the work of authors from around the globe, providing insight on key issues and state-of-the-art developments in algal bioremediation that is missing from the currently available body of literature. The volume hopes to serve as a much needed resource for professors, researchers and scientists interested in microalgae applications for wastewater treatment. Volume 1 focuses on the different aspects of domestic and industrial wastewater treatment by microalgae. The case studies include examples such as genetic technologies as well as the development and efficient use of designer consortia for enhanced utilization of microalgae. This volume provides thorough and comprehensive information on removal of persistent and highly toxic contaminants such as heavy metals, organic pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, endocrine disruptors, pharmaceutical compounds, and dyes from wastewater by microalgae, diatoms, and blue-green algae. Design considerations for algal ponds and efficient use of photobioreactors and HRAPs for wastewater treatment are some other highlights. This volume addresses the applications, potentials, and future opportunities for these various considerations in water pollution mitigation using algal technologies.

This book addresses microalgae, which represent a very promising biomass resource for wastewater treatment and producing biofuels. Accordingly, microalgae are also an expanding sector in biofuels and wastewater treatment, as can be seen in several high-profile start-ups fromaround the globe, including Solix Biofuels, Craig Venter's Synthetic Genomics, PetroSun, Chevron Corporation, ENN Group etc. In addition, a number of recent studies and patent applications have confirmed the value of modern microalgae for biofuels production and wastewater treatment systems. However, substantial inconsistencies have been observed in terms of system boundaries, scope, the cultivation of microalgae and oil extraction systems, production costs and economic viability, cost-lowering components, etc. Moreover, the downstream technologies and core principles involved in liquid fuel extraction from microalgae cells are still in their early stages, and not always adequate for industrial production. Accordingly, multilateral co-operation between universities, research institutes, governments, stakeholders and researchers is called for in order to make microalgae biofuelseconomical. Responding to this challenge, the book begins with a general introduction to microalgae and the algae industry, and subsequently discusses all major aspects of microalgal biotechnology, from strain isolation and robust strain development, to biofuel development, refinementand wastewater treatment.

Algal and phycology-based approaches for wastewater treatment have recently gained interest. Phycology-Based Approaches for Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery highlights advanced algal-based technologies developed or being considered for wastewater treatment along with the opportunities that existing technologies can provide at an industrial scale. It covers recent findings on algal-based approaches for the removal of heavy metals, organic pollutants, and other toxicities from sewage and industrial effluents and supplies in-depth analysis on technologies such as biosorption and bioaccumulations. Advanced mathematical modeling approaches to understand waste removal and resource recovery from wastewater are illustrated as well. The book: Provides exhaustive information on the use of algae for the simultaneous treatment and resource recovery of wastewater Discusses algae, microalgae, and cyanobacteria applications in detail Presents critical insight into limitations of the prevalent technologies Reviews methodology of advanced technologies Includes illustrations and interesting trivia boxes throughout the book This book is of interest to researchers, graduate students and professionals in phycology, microbiology, bioremediation, environmental sciences, biotechnology, wastewater treatment, resource recovery, and circular economy.