The DOI matches its Crossref record; 271 of the 271 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Integrating micro-algae into wastewater treatment: A review
Open accessAbstract
Improving the ecological status of water sources is a growing focus for many developed and developing nations, in particular with reducing nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater effluent. In recent years, mixotrophic micro-algae have received increased interest in implementing them as part of wastewater treatment. This is based on their ability to utilise organic and inorganic carbon, as well as inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in wastewater for their growth, with the desired results of a reduction in the concentration of these substances in the water. The aim of this review is to provide a critical account of micro-algae as an important step in wastewater treatment for enhancing the reduction of N, P and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater, whilst utilising a fraction of the energy demand of conventional biological treatment systems. Here, we begin with an overview of the various steps in the treatment process, followed by a review of the cellular and metabolic mechanisms that micro-algae use to reduce N, P and COD of wastewater with identification of when the process may potentially be most effective. We also describe the various abiotic and biotic factors influencing micro-algae wastewater treatment, together with a review of bioreactor configuration and design. Furthermore, a detailed overview is provided of the current state-of-the-art in the use of micro-algae in wastewater treatment.
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“Within 13 h of cultivation, microalgae biomass can double its original biomass [65,66].”
From Microalgae-based wastewater treatment: Mechanisms, challenges, recent advances, and future prospects (2023) · cites this paper as [65]
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“Moreover, Chlorella can be used to remove soluble organic compounds and other nutrients (e.g., N and P) from industrial and municipal effluents [7,8].”
From Challenges and Opportunities to Increase Economic Feasibility and Sustainability of Mixotrophic Cultivation of Green Microalgae of the Genus Chlorella (2022) · cites this paper as [7]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Mohsenpour, S. F., Hennige, S., Willoughby, N., Adeloye, A., & Gutierrez, T.
- Affiliations
- Heriot-Watt University (GB)
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Science of The Total Environment
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-01
- Volume
- 752
- Pages
- 142168
- ISSN
- 0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3082865927
- Cited by
- 828
- References
- 271
- Citations by year
- 2026: 106 · 2025: 139 · 2024: 180 · 2023: 127 · 2022: 183 · 2021: 88
- FWCI
- 4.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Heriot-Watt University
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Keywords
- wastewater treatment, mixotrophic cultivation, nitrogen removal, phosphorus removal, COD removal, bioreactor design, energy demand reduction, algal wastewater treatment
- MeSH terms
- Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Bioreactors, Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis, Microalgae, Wastewater
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