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FrontiersJ. Algal Biomass Utln.
2016, 7 (3): 68-69 Phycoremediation Present and the future
eISSN: 2229 6905
OPINION ARTICLE
Phycoremediation Present and the future
Polur Hanumantha Rao1 and Sivasubramanian Velusamy 2*
1
Department of Microbiology, Madras Christian College, Chennai 600 059, India. 2Phycospectrum Environmental Research Centre
(PERC), 52A, AK Block, 7th Main Road, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040, India. *Corresponding Author: vsivasubramanian@gmail.com
Keywords: Phycoremediation, microalgae, biofuels
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pH-correcting chemicals thereby leading to ecofriendly
Phycoremediation refers to the technology of approach and in turn cost incurred for the same.
using algae for the remediation of wastes,
predominantly in the treatment of wastewaters as a The other major benefits that can be reaped
part of the secondary treatment. The term by implementing the above technology are effective
phycoremediation is in vogue for more than a decade, carbon sequestration, oxygenation of the environment
and of late the technology has begun to taste due to photosynthetic activity, and generation of
commercial success. A number of articles have been biomass for production of carbon-neutral biofuels.
published on phycoremediation research and many Hence this technology offers one of the promising
authors have successfully established the fact that solutions for tackling global climate change and
treatment of wastewaters using algae, microalgae in acidification of oceans thereby offering extreme
particular, leads to remarkable reduction of an array of environmental sustainability. In the recent past, there
organic and inorganic nutrients, including some of the have been innumerous constraints and bottlenecks
toxic chemicals (Beneman et al., 1980; Gantar et al., impeding its commercial deployment. However, the
1991; de-Bashan et al., 2002; Queiroz et al., 2007; scenario is changing very recently; backed by the data
Thomas et al., 2016). With the support of the at pilot-scale levels, many industries have begun to
voluminous research data available, successful pilot- accept this novel technology. The success story of
scale/field-scale studies have been on the rise (Aziz commercialization of phycoremediation technology
and Ng, 1993; Sivasubramanian et al, 2010; Rao et al, started with the implementation of worlds full-scale
2011). Needless to say, implementation of phycoremediation plant at SNAP Alginate Pvt. Ltd.,
phycoremediation as a technology at a larger India, by Sivasubramanian and his co-workers (2009).
scale/mass-scale is being/has been successfully Subsequently, India-based Phycospectrum
attempted across the globe (Oswald and Golueke, Environment Research Centre (PERC) has installed
1960; Sivasubramanian et al, 2009). Aside from its full-scale plants in numerous industries across India as
good bioremediation efficiency, use of microalgae well as in many other countries. Very recently, the algal
offers lots of other advantages too. Although technology company has installed/is in the process of
conventional biological treatment systems such as installing large-scale plants in reputed industries such
activated sludge process is highly efficient in terms of as Brintons carpets, UK, Pacific Rubiales oil-drilling
removal of organic load, major drawbacks such as site, Colombia, KH exports, India, Ranitec CETP, India,
sensitivity towards pH are inevitable; even small etc.
changes in pH will lead to crashing of the reactor. On Infrastructure development, modification of
the other hand, microalgae are robust enough to existing infrastructure, educating and training the
withstand extreme pH values ranging from highly acidic operators, and biomass separation are other some of
to alkaline. Moreover, most microalgal species upon the minor hurdles in implementation.To overcome the
growth stabilize the pH in the alkaline range but not above constraints, amalgamation of algal technology
exceeding 9, which is the upper limit standard for with the existing conventional treatment facilities is a
discharge of treated industrial wastewaters. Thus use wise option, where algae will help in removing some of
of microalgae technology will help reduce the use of the nutrients and also help stabilizing the pH for
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J. Algal Biomass Utln. 2016, 7 (3): 68-69 Phycoremediation Present and the future
eISSN: 2229 6905
effective bacterial treatment. For some industrial waste Gantar M., Obreht Z. and Dalmacija B. 1991. Nutrient
treatment, phycoremediation alone will suffice. removal and algae succession during the growth of
However, for this technology to be taken to a still higher Spirulina platensis and Scenedesmus quadricauda on
level,, the awareness of using phycoremediation and swine wastewater. Bioresour. Technol. 36: 167171.
its importance have to be disseminated by the scientific
community with respect to environment sustainability, Oswald W.J. and Golueke C.G. 1960. Biological
gaining carbon credits, and creation of wealth from transformation of solar energy. Adv. Appl. Microbiol. 2:
waste. The integrated approach of waste remediation 223262.
and generation of biomass is being talked about in
recent times. With the fluctuating fossil fuel prices and Queiroz M.I., Lopes E.J., Zepka L.Q., Bastos R.G. and
sudden surge in the use of fracking technology, there Goldbeck R. 2007. The kinetics of the removal of
is an urgent need for sustainable generation of nitrogen and organic matter from parboiled rice effluent
biomass at a very cheaper cost. This can be achieved by cyanobacteria in a stirred batch reactor. Bioresour.
by proper and planned management of this technology Technol. 98: 21632169.
such as effluent pooling for bioremediation and
biomass generation for producing value-added Rao, P.H., Kumar, R.R., Raghavan, B.G.,
products as well as commodity products. Such Subramanian, V.V. and Sivasubramanian, V. 2011. Is
innovations will for sure help overcome the phycovolatilization of heavy metals a probable (or
comparatively slower treatment rates by providing possible) physiological phenomenon? An in situ pilot-
greater commercial gains. In addition, revisions of scale study at a leatherprocessing chemical industry.
policies by the government pertaining to environment Water Environ. Res., 83(4): 291-297.
management and industrial waste mangement will
certainly facilitate implementation of such ecofriendly Sivasubramanian, V., Subramanian, V.V., Raghavan,
technologies without any difficulty. For example, B.G. and Kumar, R.R. 2009. Large scale
providing technical as well as financial support, phycoremediation of acidic effluent from an alginate
subsidies, tax benefits, etc., will encourage both the industry. ScienceAsia, 35: 220-226.
start-up and already-existing industries to implement
new bioremediation technologies with multiple Sivasubramanian V., Subramanian V.V. and
benefits. To conclude, complete replacement of Muthukumaran M. 2010. Bioremediation of chrome-
existing secondary treatment systems with more sludge from an electroplating industry using the
environment-friendly and profitable phycoremediation microalga Desmococcus olivaceus A pilot study. J.
technology depends on the joint effort by the Algal Biomass Utln. 1(3): 104-128.
policymakers, entrepreneurs and the scientific
community. Thomas D.G., Minj N., Mohan N. and Rao P.H.
2016. Cultivation of microalgae in domestic
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