Current strategies and prospects in algae for remediation and biofuels: An overview

Abstract

Phycoremediation is an environmentally sustainable method that utilizes macro and microalgae to remediate polluted land and water. Phycoremediation consists of two elements: the microbial niche around the algae and the second by the algae itself, which absorb and degrade the toxic pollutants into less or non-toxic components. The advanced gene cloning technology on algae could improve gene efficiency and produce the active xenobiotic degrading enzyme. As a result, remedial rates have improved, allowing large areas of contaminated sites to be addressed in the process of large-scale application. Many organizations worldwide are already focusing on this bioremediation element, special attention on algae to replace the costly physical or chemical remediation methods. Thus, this review reported the Scenedesmus sp. algae used in the polluted tannery site, and the maximum removal was observed in Pb: 75–98% and Zn: 65–98%. Scenedesmus obliquus illustrated the significant Fe 3+ (100%) removal applied in the polluted soil. Moreover, since nuclear and chloroplast transformations are important in commercial applications, C. reinhardtii remains the most effective transgenic algae applied for pollutant deduction. It was discovered that Chlorella , Chlamydomonas , and Scenedesmus sp. had the highest pollutant removal efficacy in medicine polluted sites. Furthermore, Kirchneriella sp. and Enteromorpha clathrate were observed to have the largest algal oil yield than other algal species. • Viable and dead algal biomass have an excellent metal absorbing potential. • Metals resistant algae effectively remediate the toxic medical & allied pollutants. • This review comprised omics strategy of transgenic algae in metals remediation. • Hydrothermal Liquefaction showed significant algae biomass conversion into fuel. • This sustainable approach (remediation to bio-oil) can generate a clean environment.