Microalgae-Based Wastewater Treatment and Recovery with Biomass and Value-Added Products: a Brief Review

Biofuels from Microalgae—A Review of Technologies for Production, Processing, and Extractions of Biofuels and Co-Products

Brennan, L., & Owende, P. (2010) · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.rser.2009.10.009 · Cited by 4,894

Commercial Applications of Microalgae

Spolaore, P., Joannis-Cassan, C., Duran, E., & Isambert, A. (2006) · Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering · doi:10.1263/jbb.101.87 · Cited by 4,285

Second Generation Biofuels: High-Efficiency Microalgae for Biodiesel Production

Schenk, P. M., Thomas‐Hall, S. R., Stephens, E., Marx, U. C., Mussgnug, J. H., Posten, C. H., Kruse, O., & Hankamer, B. D. (2008) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-008-9008-8 · Cited by 2,335

Valuable Products from Biotechnology of Microalgae

Pulz, O., & Gross, W. (2004) · Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology · doi:10.1007/s00253-004-1647-x · Cited by 2,132

Cultivation, photobioreactor design and harvesting of microalgae for biodiesel production: A critical review

Chen, C.-Y., Yeh, K.-L., Aisyah, R., Lee, D.-J., & Chang, J.-S. (2011) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.06.159 · Cited by 1,860

Heterotrophic cultures of microalgae: Metabolism and potential products

Perez‐Garcia, O., Escalante, F. M. E., de‐Bashan, L. E., & Yoav Bashan, A. (2010) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2010.08.037 · Cited by 1,820

Nutrient recovery from wastewater streams by microalgae: Status and prospects

Cai, T., Park, S. Y., & Li, Y. (2012) · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.rser.2012.11.030 · Cited by 1,640

Algae as nutritional and functional food sources: revisiting our understanding.

Wells, M. L., Potin, P., Craigie, J. S., Raven, J. A., Merchant, S. S., Helliwell, K. E., Smith, A. G., Camire, M. E., & Brawley, S. H. (2017) · Journal of Applied Phycology · doi:10.1007/s10811-016-0974-5 · Cited by 1,562

The Potential of Sustainable Algal Biofuel Production Using Wastewater Resources

Pittman, J. K., Dean, A. P., & Osundeko, O. (2011) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.06.035 · Cited by 1,526

Production and harvesting of microalgae for wastewater treatment, biofuels, and bioproducts

Christenson, L., & Sims, R. C. (2011) · Biotechnology Advances · doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2011.05.015 · Cited by 1,386

Key Parameters for Purification of Pickled Mustard Wastewater with a Domestic Microbial Community Containing the Diatom Halamphora coffeaeformis

Jiang, S., Wang, C., Zhang, K., Zheng, L., Zhang, J., Gao, L., Zheng, J., Li, P., & Bi, R. (2025) · Journal of Environmental Engineering · doi:10.1061/joeedu.eeeng-7857 · Cited by 1

Biogas Digestate and Its Electrodialysis Concentrate as Alternative Media Composition for A. platensis Cultivation: A Study on Nutrient Recovery from Dairy Wastewater

Singer, E., Jung, S.-H., Vivekanand, V., & Lindenberger, C. P. (2025) · Bioengineering · doi:10.3390/bioengineering12050460 · Cited by 1

Employing wastewater-grown biomass to reclaim the nutritional value of damaged soils

Maneechote, W., Sriket, N., Wichaphian, A., Kamngoen, A., Kaewman, N., & Srinuanpan, S. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-34063-5.00013-1 · Cited by 1

Treatment of beverage wastewater using microalgae: A focus on COD removal, biomass production, and lipid accumulation

Hasanath, M. A., Panigrahi, A., Chaitanya, N. K., & Chatterjee, P. (2025) · Bioresource Technology Reports · doi:10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102467 · Cited by 2

Microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and lactate-based biopolymers from C1 resources: current advances and trends

Wang, Y., Liang, J., Hu, G., Zhen, Y., Zhang, X., Cai, D., Wang, B., Sun, J., & Kong, D. (2025) · Green Chemistry · doi:10.1039/d5gc03933a · Cited by 1

Environmentally significant non-agricultural biomass for sustainable bioenergy: Sources, conversion, and environmental benefits

Shija, G. E. (2026) · Next Energy · doi:10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100501 · Cited by 2

Microalgae-Based Wastewater Treatment as a Circular Solution for Sustainable Resource Recovery

Lamchaimech, A., El-Moustaqim, K., Abarkan, A., Boudoudou, D., Boutarbouch, M., Ghailane, A., Lamiri, C., Ihouaten, A., & Mabrouki, J. (2026) · BIO Web of Conferences · doi:10.1051/bioconf/202621504007 · Cited by 1

Simultaneous aqueous organics mineralization and CO2 valorization into formate in an integrated microbial fuel cell and photobioreactor

Ansari, A., Verma, N. K., Matheshwaran, S., & Verma, N. (2026) · Chemical Engineering Journal · doi:10.1016/j.cej.2026.174648 · Cited by 1

Conserved sulfate removal pathway in microalgae: A cross-species investigation for high-sulfate wastewater treatment

Li, X. J., Qiu, S., Yan, R., Shan, W., & Ge, S. (2026) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129807 · Cited by 1

Accelerated degradation of antiviral ribavirin by microalgae fuel cell (MFC), electricity generation and key metabolic process

Wang, J., Qin, X., Ge, J., Cheng, Y., Li, K., Liu, J., Shan, K., Peng, C., Yan, W., Wang, J., et al. (2026) · Journal of environmental chemical engineering · doi:10.1016/j.jece.2026.123314 · Cited by 1

Microalgal membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment: Valorisation pathways, micropollutant removal, and scale-up applications

Sun, Z., Khan, I. A., Baig, N., Tabraiz, S., & Asif, M. B. (2026) · Separation and Purification Technology · doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2026.138825 · Cited by 1

An Overview of Bioproducts from Wastewater-Grown Microalgae: Recent Advancements, Economic and Feasibility Concerns

Vlaicu, A., Galan, A. M., Vintilă, A. C. N., Mîrț, A.-L., Cîlţea-Udrescu, M., Paulenco, A., & Vasilievici, G. (2026) · Microorganisms · doi:10.3390/microorganisms14071494 · Cited by 1

Comparative evaluation of microalgae-activated sludge cocultivation for municipal wastewater treatment using four microalgal species under nonaerated batch conditions

Maulana, A., Mori, K., & Toyama, T. (2026) · Water Science & Technology · doi:10.2166/wst.2026.317 · Cited by 1

The Efficiency of Moving Bed Bioreactor Carrier (MBBRC) Hybrid with Algae and Bacterial Strains for Ammonia Removal in the Rosetta Branch of the River Nile

al., M. A. A. E. (2023) · Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries · doi:10.21608/ejabf.2023.319252 · Cited by 1

Seasonal nitrogen removal in an outdoor microalgal polyculture at Nordic conditions

Mattsson, L., Farnelid, H., Hirwa, M., Olofsson, M., Svensson, F., Legrand, C., & Lindehoff, E. (2024) · Water Environment Research · doi:10.1002/wer.11142 · Cited by 1

Bioremediation by Chlorella vulgaris: Potentials for Treatment of Municipal, Agricultural, and Industrial Wastewater SourcesPreprint

Alberca, L. A., Arbilo, S. M., Panaglima, L. M., Casisola, D., & Articona, L. I. (2023) · doi:10.32942/x2zc7r · Cited by 1

Algal‐Mediated Bioremediation of Wastewater Streams with a Special Focus on the Successes Achieved in Vietnam

Hong, D. D., Ha, N. C., Thom, L. T., Quyền, Đ. V., Cúc, N. T. K., Hương, N. T. L., Rao, A. R., & Ravishankar, G. A. (2024) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9783527843367.ch31 · Cited by 1

Phycoremediation of Palm Oil Mill Effluent by Selected Algal Forms Leading to Biomass Production and High Value Products

Nur, M. M. A., Rao, A. R., & Ravishankar, G. A. (2024) · doi:10.1002/9783527843367.ch15 · Cited by 1

Algal oil recovery from crepe cotton processing effluent using Scenedesmus dimorphus in comparison with activated sludge treatmentPreprint

Meher, R., Sharma, N. K., & Manickam, M. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1612117/v1

Book: “Resource Recovery from Wastewater Through Biological Methods” Biofertilizers from Wastewater

Bhardwaj, T., Khanna, K., Kaur, R., Upma, U., Kumar, P., Kour, J., Devi, K., Sharma, N., Madaan, I., Singh, A. P., et al. (2023) · Springer water · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-40198-5_12

The Use of Wastewater for Algal Growth

Foo, W. H., Koay, S. S. N., Lim, H. R., & Chew, K. W. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-42026-9_9

Agronomy Suitability of Treated Wastewater with Microalgae as Alternative Sources for Irrigation

El-Moustaqim, K., Mabrouki, J., & Hmouni, D. (2024) · World sustainability series · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-56292-1_30

Microalgae and Cyanobacteria for Resource Conservation, Recycling, and Preservation

Akbar, I., Razzaque, N., Abdullah, M., Ghorbannezhad, P., & Syafiuddin, A. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-70698-1_7

Role of Microbes and Microbiomes in Wastewater Treatment for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration

Rajendran, S., Sinduja, M., Ramesh, P., & Dinesh, G. K. (2024) · BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBLISHERS eBooks · doi:10.2174/9789815256598124010008

Integrated biorefinery

Mohanty, K., & Mohanty, S. S. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-90840-5.00007-1

Role of algal-based technologies in domestic wastewater treatment for resources recovery and water reuse

López-Pacheco, I. Y., Moreno-Pascual, P., Ramírez-Gamboa, D., Meléndez-Sánchez, E. R., González-Meza, G. M., González-González, R. B., Melchor-Martínez, E. M., Iqbal, H. M. N., & Parra‐Saldívar, R. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-23967-0.00011-5

CO2 sequestration integrated with phycoremediation: Potential applications and case studies

Şenol, A., & Şengör, S. S. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-23796-6.00008-0

Recovery of organic nutrients by Chlorella sorokiniana CMBB276 under various light qualities in aquaculture wastewater

Zhang, K., Tan, L., Wang, H., Hu, J., Chen, B., Xie, J., Chang, T., Xu, Q., Zhu, X., Rebours, C., et al. (2025) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126636

Diverse Microalgal Communities Maintain Robust and Resilient Nutrient Recovery across Variable Wastewater Influent Loadings and SRT

Hodaei, M., Alam, M. M., & Bradley, I. (2025) · ACS ES&T Engineering · doi:10.1021/acsestengg.5c00485

Tetradesmus lagerheimii: an algal solution for pollutant-tolerant aquaculture tailwater management and metabolomic insights

Zhang, M., Zhao, W., Gui, Z., Zhang, Y., Li, J., Du, F., Zhao, X., Wang, X., Wang, X., & Meng, X. (2025) · Algal Research · doi:10.1016/j.algal.2025.104303

Sequential Microalgae Cultivation System to Treat Wastewater: Applications, Sustainability, and Drawbacks

Jose, S., Mohanan, V. C., Sabu, S., Kumaran, J., Singh, I. S. B., & Joseph, V. (2026) · Interdisciplinary biotechnological advances · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-5179-8_16

Biotechnology for Waste Disposal and Alternative Bioenergy Generation

Patanaik, S. B., Padhy, R. N., & Uthansingh, K. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-11377-1_2

Effects of substituting soyabean meal and rapeseed meal with various microalgae species on in vitro rumen fermentation kinetics and methane production

Zeleke, A. W., Moorby, J. M., Ferris, C. P., & Huws, S. (2026) · Algal Research · doi:10.1016/j.algal.2026.104653

Lipid accumulation and fatty acid profile remodeling of Chlamydomonas sp. cultivated in piggery wastewater

Joa, E. B., & Lee, S.-A. (2026) · Environmental Biology Research · doi:10.11626/kjeb.2026.44.1.001

Advanced microalgal cultivation systems for enhanced wastewater treatment and carbon sequestration

Zarezadeh, S., Salehipour-Bavarsad, F., Tablawy, N. H. E., Saber, A. A., & El-Sheekh, M. M. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-29269-9.00004-6

Microalgal cultivation systems for wastewater treatment and carbon sequestration

Hidalgo, D., Martín-Marroquín, J. M., Garrote, L., & Corona, F. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-29269-9.00012-5

Enhancing Domestic Wastewater Treatment by Spirulina platensis in a Photobioreactor Through Light Intensity Control

Ibrahim, R., Soedjono, E. S., Nadir, M., & Hanami, Z. A. (2026) · Engineering Technology & Applied Science Research · doi:10.48084/etasr.17750

Carbon dynamics in mixotrophic phycoremediation of diluted POME using Chlorella vulgaris

Cheng, Y. S., Chng, L. M., Leong, S. S., Pin, Y. S., Jawad, Z. A., Ng, C. A., Sethupathi, S., & Toh, P. Y. (2026) · Algal Research · doi:10.1016/j.algal.2026.104922

Nature Based Solutions for the Treatment of Veterinary Antibiotic Pollutants from the Wastewater

Rajamanickam, R., SELVAM, S. M., Newmei, K., Behera, B., Solayman, H. M., Jiang, J., & Selvasembian, R. (2026) · Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology · doi:10.1007/s44169-026-00116-9

Year-long cumulative effect assessment of water quality and sludge reduction in Jayanti Ki Rao channel through strategized biological treatment using principal component analysis—a case study

Vishwakarma, R., Gupta, N., Gautam, D. D., Koranga, M., Vaswani, P., Nanda, S., & Nanda, S. (2026) · Environmental Monitoring and Assessment · doi:10.1007/s10661-026-15652-z

Technological Innovations in Food Waste Valorisation

Ghosh, S., Choudhary, A., Choudhary, M., & Ghosh, S. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-22472-9_3

Diatom-Based Wastewater Polishing Heavy Metal and Micro-Pollutant Uptake

Ratul, S. I., Akhter, M. S., Chowdhury, U., & Rahman, M. A. (2026) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-2600-3080-6.ch009

Effect of GABA on the resilience of Scenedesmus abundans to ampicillin stress and bioactive compounds production

Parveen, A., Sanawar, M., James, J., Nanda, M., Jaiswal, K. K., Huang, J., KURBATOVA, A. I., Vlaskin, M. S., & Kumar, V. (2026) · Bioresource Technology Reports · doi:10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102952

Innovative applications of microalgae in spent hydroponic solution treatment and biomass production

Abu-Hussien, S. H., Khan, M. A., El-Zmrany, M. H., Samy, Z., & Hemdan, B. A. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-41813-6.00001-6

Stratejik hammaddelerden magnezyum (Mg) ve fosfor (P)’un çeşitli atıksulardan makroalg (Cladophora fracta) ile akümülasyonunun araştırılması

Deniz, M. M., & Topal, M. (2026) · Pamukkale University Journal of Engineering Sciences · doi:10.65206/pajes.1908260

Carbon-Swallow Photovoltaic Modules—Perspective overview and preliminary study

Lu, X., Guo, S., Mao, Z., Li, Y., Liu, H., & Zhao, X. (2026) · Science China Technological Sciences · doi:10.1007/s11431-026-3445-3 · Cited by 1

Microalgae-mediated treatment of pharmaceutical contaminants: degradation pathways, advance system design, and priority research needs

Waseem, M., Arshad, M. T., Rahul, F., Parveen, H., Mukhtar, S., & Oves, M. (2026) · Biodegradation · doi:10.1007/s10532-026-10360-4

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment: mechanisms of pollutant removal, key performance factors, and resource utilization of by-product proteins

Wang, X., Xie, Y., Zhou, Z., Ruan, R. R., Zhou, C., & Cheng, Y. (2026) · Water Science & Technology · doi:10.2166/wst.2026.347

Temperature-dependent performance and membrane fouling mechanisms of a biofilm-integrated microalgae–bacteria membrane photobioreactor for synthetic mariculture wastewater treatment

Zhou, Y., Huang, Z., Huang, J., Xue, X., & Wang, X. (2026) · Journal of environmental chemical engineering · doi:10.1016/j.jece.2026.125217

NUTRIENT REMOVAL AND TRADE-OFF BETWEEN BIOMASS PRODUCTIVITY IN MONOCULTURES AND CONSORTIUM OF SCENEDESMUS OBLIQUUS AND CHLORELLA VULGARIS USING INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER FROM HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES

Oliveira, J. L. D. S., Pereira, R. G., de Oliveira, K. L., Soares, D. Q., Cavalcante, K. M. D. S. P., Alves, C. R., & Oliveira, M. L. M. (2026) · LUMEN ET VIRTUS · doi:10.56238/levv17n65-081

NUTRIENT REMOVAL AND TRADE-OFF BETWEEN BIOMASS PRODUCTIVITY IN MONOCULTURES AND CONSORTIUM OF SCENEDESMUS OBLIQUUS AND CHLORELLA VULGARIS USING INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER FROM HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES

Oliveira, J. L. D. S., Pereira, R. G., de Oliveira, K. L., Soares, D. Q., Cavalcante, K. M. D. S. P., Alves, C. R., & Oliveira, M. L. M. (2026) · Aracê. · doi:10.56238/arev8n10-176

Microalgae: a cheap tool for wastewater abatement and biomass recovery

Saidu, H., Mohammed, J. N., Abdullahi, N., Mahmoud, A. B., & Mohamad, S. E. (2022) · Environmental Technology Reviews · doi:10.1080/21622515.2022.2147453 · Cited by 7

Valorization of wastewater through microalgae as a prospect for generation of biofuel and high-value products

Kumar, N., Banerjee, C., Chang, J., & Shukla, P. (2022) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132114 · Cited by 70

Multifaceted roles of microalgae in the application of wastewater biotreatment: a review

Chai, W. S., Tan, W. G., Halimatul Munawaroh, H. S., Gupta, V. K., Ho, S.-H., & Show, P. L. (2021) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116236 · Cited by 404

Microalgae in wastewater treatment

Zhang, Y., & Hong, Y. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-22080-7.00012-0

Nutrient removal and biomass production: advances in microalgal biotechnology for wastewater treatment

Abinandan, S., Subashchandrabose, S. R., Venkateswarlu, K., & Megharaj, M. (2018) · Critical Reviews in Biotechnology · doi:10.1080/07388551.2018.1472066 · Cited by 102