Cited by 245Algal biology and biofuel productionAquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton DynamicsWastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal

Ammonium Utilization in Microalgae: A Sustainable Method for Wastewater Treatment

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Salbitani, Giovanna, Carfagna, Simona·2021·Sustainability

Abstract

In plant cells, ammonium is considered the most convenient nitrogen source for cell metabolism. However, despite ammonium being the preferred N form for microalgae, at higher concentrations, it can be toxic, and can cause growth inhibition. Microalgae’s tolerance to ammonium depends on the species, with various taxa showing different thresholds of tolerability and symptoms of toxicity. In the environment, ammonium at high concentrations represents a dangerous pollutant. It can affect water quality, causing numerous environmental problems, including eutrophication of downstream waters. For this reason, it is important to treat wastewater and remove nutrients before discharging it into rivers, lakes, or seas. A valid and sustainable alternative to conventional treatments could be provided by microalgae, coupling the nutrient removal from wastewater with the production of valuable biomass. This review is focused on ammonium and its importance in algal nutrition, but also on its problematic presence in aquatic systems such as wastewaters. The aim of this work is to provide recent information on the exploitation of microalgae in ammonium removal and the role of ammonium in microalgae metabolism.

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

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Authors
Salbitani, G., & Carfagna, S.
Affiliations
University of Naples Federico II (IT)
Corresponding author
Salbitani, Giovanna
Venue
Sustainability
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2021-01-19
Volume
13
Issue
2
Pages
956
ISSN
2071-1050 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3125593677
Cited by
245
References
122
Citations by year
2026: 60 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 14
FWCI
6.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Sustainability (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
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 › Pollution › Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
Keywords
ammonium, microalgae, wastewater treatment, nutrient removal, ammonium toxicity, algal nutrition, microalgae metabolism, eutrophication, microalgae cultivation, nitrogen source

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