Comprehensive Advancements in Hydrogel, and Its Application in Microalgae Cultivation and Wastewater Treatment
Open accessAbstract
Microalgae are recognized as a sustainable resource to produce biofertilizers, biofuels, and pigments, with the added benefits of environmental sustainability, such as carbon sequestration and pollutant removal. However, traditional cultivation methods face challenges like low biomass productivity and high operational costs. This review focuses on the innovative use of hydrogels as a medium for microalgae cultivation, which addresses these challenges by enhancing nutrient permeability, light distribution, and overall growth efficiency. Hydrogels provide a three-dimensional matrix that not only supports higher biomass yields but also facilitates the removal of pollutants from wastewater, contributing to circular economy goals. The review also explores the environmental benefits, challenges, and prospects of integrating hydrogel technology into microalgae cultivation systems. By highlighting influencing factors through which hydrogels improve microalgal productivity and environmental outcomes, this work aims to provide insights into the potential of hydrogel-based systems for sustainable development.
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Algae's adaptability to diverse environments, including cultivation in wastewater or brackish water on non-arable land, reduces pressure on fertile land and freshwater resources while offering co-benefits such as nutrient recycling from wastewater streams and environmental remediation through the uptake of pollutants.
“However, algae's adaptability to diverse environments, including cultivation in wastewater or brackish water on non-arable land, reduces pressure on fertile land and freshwater resources while offering co-benefits such as nutrient recycling from wastewater streams and environmental remediation through the uptake of pollutants [159-161].”
From Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions (2025) · cites this paper as [161]
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMicroalgae biofuels require significant nutrient inputs (nitrogen, phosphorus), potentially leading to reliance on fertilizers with GHG footprint and risks of eutrophication, and face substantial harvesting challenges.
“However, they require significant nutrient inputs (nitrogen, phosphorus), potentially leading to a reliance on fertilizers with their own GHG footprint and risks of water body eutrophication if not managed carefully, and they face substantial harvesting challenges [156,161].”
From Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions (2025) · cites this paper as [161]
The ‘Hydrogel Applications in the Microalgae Cultivation System’ section (page not provided) describes difficulty separating microalgae and says hydrogels make harvesting easier, supporting the harvesting-challenges portion. The Introduction (page not provided) discusses recovering nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater and pollution from fertilizers in conventional agriculture, but does not say microalgal biofuel production requires significant fertilizer inputs or link those inputs to a GHG footprint or eutrophication risk. (LLM, conf=0.87)
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Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions
Yılbaşı, Z. (2025) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su17136145 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
- Authors
- Yang, G., Zhang, J., Abdullah, R., Cheah, W. Y., Zhao, D., & Ling, T. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Malaya (MY)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- National University of Malaysia (MY)
- Corresponding author
- Abdullah, Rosazlin
- Venue
- Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Published
- 2024-10-31
- Volume
- 35
- Pages
- e2407038-e2407038
- ISSN
- 1017-7825 (ISSN-L)
- 1738-8872
- PMC
- PMC11813343
- OpenAlex
- W4405124803
- Cited by
- 14
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 7
- FWCI
- 0.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Universiti Malaya (MG017-2022)
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (GGPM-2022-048)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Keywords
- hydrogels, microalgae cultivation, wastewater treatment, microalgae productivity, light distribution, pollutant removal, biofuels, biofertilizers, carbon sequestration, circular economy
- MeSH terms
- Culture Media, Water Purification, Biomass, Hydrogels, Biofuels, Microalgae, Wastewater
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