Chapter 18 - Exploring bioeconomic value addition potential of seaweeds for wastewater treatment

Abstract

Industrial and municipal wastewater contains significant loads of inorganic and organic pollutants that may be hazardous to the environment. Many proposed treatments with bioremediation applications are time not effective although seaweeds may be useful for the elimination of organic pollutants such as nitrates, phosphates, and inorganic pollutants such as heavy metals. The wastewater from industry and domestic areas is generally not saline to grow seaweeds in the long term. Several lab studies carried out by many researchers indicate that the bioremediation by using seaweeds may be efficient and useful in wastewater with specific characteristics. This puts limitations on the use of seaweeds in wastewater treatment. To promote the application of seaweed to wastewater treatment, general growth requirements of seaweed along with possible risk factors must be defined. We suggested a system for the utilization of seaweeds to implement in the wastewater treatment plant located nearby coastal areas to remove all types of pollutants. The worldwide availability of seaweeds can open the door to their bioremediation potential for wastewater treatment efficiently.