Abstract
Wastewater contains a munificent range of hazardous pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, and xenobiotics. Among them, ~79 types of different pharmaceuticals, and xenobiotics have been reported to exist in wastewater and were not effectively removed through the conventional wastewater treatment system. Recently, with increasing socioeconomic aspects and environmental awareness, societies are more alert and are trying to search for possible solutions to treat these polluted wastewaters. Thus, microalgae-based treatment systems are a promising way to remediate pharmaceuticals or xenobiotics wastewater partially (8–70%). However, some of the antibiotics at low concentrations (7.5 ng/L–500 μg/L) especially sulfa groups, oxytetracycline, erythromycin, pharmaceutical drugs, and growth hormones are toxic to the algal cells. Advancements in the microalgal treatment systems and optimization of growth conditions have increased the removal efficiency up to 85–99%. However, it depends on concentrations and types of microalga species. Thus, the review highlights the potential use of microalgae for pharmaceutical contaminants removal from wastewater and their mechanism. Moreover, the role of enzymes, the interaction of microalgal EPS, and the toxicity of pharmaceutical contaminants in microalgae are critically discussed. The current review briefly deliberates various factors affecting the growth of microalgae in the wastewater treatment process. Additionally, it critically discusses the different microalgae-based advancements in the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater such as consortia and immobilization. In addition, it has disparagingly summarized the recent pilot-level study and reflected upon the published data highlighting the utilization of pharmaceutical and xenobiotic treated algal biomass into biofuels. Moreover, the challenges and conceptual integrated approach of the microalgae-based treatment process to maintain environmental sustainability has been elaborated in terms of circular bioeconomy.
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