Cited by 195Algal biology and biofuel productionAquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton DynamicsConstructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment

A critical review on designs and applications of microalgae-based photobioreactors for pollutants treatment

Open access
Vo, Hoang Nhat Phong, Ngo, Huu Hao, Guo, Wenshan, Nguyen, Thi Minh Hong, Liu, Yiwen, Liu, Yi, Nguyen, Dinh Duc, Chang, Soon Woong·2019·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

The development of the photobioreactors (PBs) is recently noticeable as cutting-edge technology while the correlation of PBs' engineered elements such as modellings, configurations, biomass yields, operating conditions and pollutants removal efficiency still remains complex and unclear. A systematic understanding of PBs is therefore essential. This critical review study is to: (1) describe the modelling approaches and differentiate the outcomes; (2) review and update the novel technical issues of PBs' types; (3) study microalgae growth and control determined by PBs types with comparison made; (4) progress and compare the efficiencies of contaminants removal given by PBs' types and (5) identify the future perspectives of PBs. It is found that Monod model's shortcoming in internal substrate utilization is well fixed by modified Droop model. The corroborated data also remarks an array of PBs' types consisting of flat plate, column, tubular, soft-frame and hybrid configuration in which soft-frame and hybrid are the latest versions with higher flexibility, performance and smaller foot-print. Flat plate PBs is observed with biomass yield being 5 to 20 times higher than other PBs types while soft-frame and membrane PBs can also remove pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) up to 100%. Looking at an opportunity for PBs in sustainable development, the flat plate PBs are applicable in PB-based architectures and infrastructures indicating an encouraging revenue-raising potential.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.282

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Authors
Vo, H. N. P., Ngo, H. H., Guo, W., Nguyen, T. M. H., Liu, Y., Liu, Y., Nguyen, D. D., & Chang, S. W.
Affiliations
  • University of Technology Sydney (AU)
  • Asian Institute of Technology (TH)
  • Kyonggi University (KR)
Corresponding author
  • Ngo, Huu Hao
  • Chang, Soon Woong
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-02
Volume
651
Issue
Pt 1
Pages
1549-1568
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2893641839
Cited by
195
References
152
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 1
FWCI
0.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • OPUS - Open Publications of UTS Scholars (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • University of Technology, Sydney
  • Ministry of Environment (2015001790001)
  • UTS
  • Tianjin Chengjian University
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
Keywords
microalgae photobioreactor, pollutant removal, Monod kinetics, Droop model, flat panel photobioreactor, column photobioreactor, tubular photobioreactor, membrane photobioreactor, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, biomass yield, wastewater treatment
MeSH terms
Equipment Design, Models, Biological, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Microalgae, Photobioreactors

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