Cited by 485Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsAdsorption and biosorption for pollutant removalAlgal biology and biofuel production

Removal of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater using microalgae: a review

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Hena, Sufia, Gutierrez, Leonardo, Croué, Jean-Philippe·2021·Journal of Hazardous Materials

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are a group of emerging micro-pollutants causing detrimental effects on living organisms even at low doses. Previous investigations have confirmed the presence of PPCPs in the environment at hazardous levels, mainly due to the inefficiency of conventional wastewater treatment plants (CWWTPs). Their stable structure induces longer persistence in the environment. Microalgae are currently used to bioremediate numerous pollutants of different characteristics and properties released from the domestic, industrial, agricultural, and farm sectors. CO 2 mitigation during culture and the use of biomass as feedstock for biodiesel or biofuel production are, briefly, other benefits of microalgae-mediated treatment over CWWTPs. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent literature, an overview of approaches and treatment systems, and breakthrough in the field of algal-mediated removal of PPCPs in wastewater treatment processes. The mechanisms involved in phycoremediation, along with their experimental approaches, have been discussed in detail. Factors influencing the removal of PPCPs from aqueous media are comprehensively described and assessed. A comparative study on microalgal strains is analyzed for a more efficient implementation of future processes. The role of microalgae to mitigate the most severe environmental impacts of PPCPs and the generation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is discussed. Also, a detailed assessment of recent research on potential toxic effects of PPCPs on microalgae was conducted. The current review highlights microalgae as a promising and sustainable approach to efficiently bio-transform or bio-adsorb PPCPs.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124041

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  • The removal mechanisms of various pharmaceutical compounds by microalgae vary depending on the physicochemical properties of the targeted compounds.

    “It has been reported that the removal mechanisms of various PCs utilizing microalgae vary depending on the physicochemical properties of the targeted PCs [4].”
  • Eutrophication promotes growth of unwanted microbes that threaten other aquatic life and deteriorate drinking water quality, contributing to common health-related issues in regions neighboring the discharge area.

    “It also promotes the growth of unwanted microbes that threaten other aquatic life and deteriorate the quality of drinking water, which contributes to common health-related issues in regions neighboring the discharge area [4].”

    From Microalgae-based wastewater treatment: Mechanisms, challenges, recent advances, and future prospects (2023) · cites this paper as [4]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) says PPCPs may affect drinking-water quality, human health, and ecosystems, but it does not link those effects to eutrophication or the growth of unwanted microbes. Section 4.4 (page unavailable) discusses bacteria in microalgal wastewater treatment, not health issues in communities near a discharge area. Searches for eutrophication, unwanted microbes, and the claimed drinking-water and health effects found no passage establishing that chain of effects. (LLM, conf=0.70)

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Authors
Hena, S., Gutierrez, L., & Croué, J.-P.
Affiliations
  • Curtin University (AU)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
Corresponding author
Croué, Jean-Philippe
Venue
Journal of Hazardous Materials
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-02
Volume
403
Pages
124041
ISSN
0304-3894 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3087174176
Cited by
478
References
241
Citations by year
2026: 43 · 2025: 81 · 2024: 94 · 2023: 89 · 2022: 114 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 2
FWCI
2.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Hazardous Materials (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
Keywords
pharmaceuticals and personal care products, microalgae, phycoremediation, wastewater treatment, micropollutants, bioremediation, biosorption, biotransformation, antibiotic resistance, microalgae toxicity, CO2 emission reduction
MeSH terms
Cosmetics, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Purification, Microalgae, Wastewater

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