MICROALGAE AND CYANOBACTERIA IN THE BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF EFFLUENTS

Abstract

Objective: This research has the aim of carrying out a bibliography review of effluent treatment in the industrial sector using microalgae as a process of biological treatment to reduce the concentration of pollutants. Theoretical framework: Water availability is a global problem and it is necessary to implement wastewater treatment processes to reduce the concentration of organic, inorganic, and toxic pollutants and others. Among the stages of the wastewater treatment train there are the biological processes where organic matter is degraded by microorganisms present. Methodology: databases as Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer, and NCBI, were consulted to collect scientific and academic documents, including documents from 2005 to 2024. Results and Discussion: the benefit of using microalgae and cyanobacteria as a biological treatment is observed mainly in the reduction of contaminants compounds, also the reduction of the presence of color, odor and fecal coliforms in the wastewater. Research implications: demonstrate the promising results on the reduction of pollutants concentration in effluents from different sectors when microalgae are included in the process; its utility is attributed to their adaption, tolerance, and survival capacity in various concentrations of contaminants. Also, the viability of the microalgal biotechnology with the implementation of photobioreactors who allow the operations of closed systems in continuous or semi-continuous optimizing the cultivation of microalgae under specific conditions.

Alternate abstract:

Objetivo: Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica do tratamento de efluentes no setor industrial utilizando microalgas como processo de tratamento biológico para reduzir a concentração de poluentes. Estrutura teórica: A disponibilidade de água é um problema global e é necessário implementar processos de tratamento de águas residuais para reduzir a concentração de poluentes orgânicos, inorgânicos e tóxicos e outros. Entre as etapas da estação de tratamento de águas residuais há os processos biológicos em que a matéria orgânica é degradada por microrganismos presentes. Metodologia: bancos de dados como Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer e NCBI, foram consultados para coletar documentos científicos e acadêmicos, incluindo documentos de 2005 a 2024. Resultados e Discussão: o benefício do uso de microalgas e cianobactérias como tratamento biológico é observado principalmente na redução de compostos contaminantes, e também na redução da presença de cor, odor e coliformes fecais nas águas residuais. Implicações da pesquisa: demonstrar os resultados promissores na redução da concentração de poluentes em efluentes de diferentes setores quando microalgas são incluídas no processo; sua utilidade é atribuída à sua adaptação, tolerância e capacidade de sobrevivência em várias concentrações de contaminantes. Além disso, a viabilidade da biotecnologia de microalgas com a implementação de fotobiorreatores que permitem a operação de sistemas fechados em contínuo ou semicontínuo otimizando o cultivo de microalgas em condições específicas.

Alternate abstract:

Objetivo: Este trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar una revisión bibliográfica sobre el tratamiento de efluentes del sector industrial empleando microalgas en el un proceso para disminuir la concentración de contaminantes. Marco teórico: En la actualidad la disponibilidad de agua es un problema mundial y el implementar procesos de tratamiento de aguas residuales puede disminuir la concentración de compuestos orgánicos, inorgánicos, tóxicos entre otros más, es necesario. Entre las etapas del tren de tratamiento de aguas residuales se encuentran los procesos biológicos donde la materia orgánica es degradada por microorganismos presentes. Metodología: Se consultaron fuentes como Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer y NCBI para recabar documentos de carácter científico y académico, abarcando del 2005 al 2024. Resultados y discusión: El beneficio del empleo de microalgas y cianobacterias en el tratamiento biológico, se observa principalmente en la disminución de compuestos contaminantes, además, de disminuir la presencia de color, olor y coliformes fecales en el agua residual. Implicaciones de la investigación: Demostrar los resultados prometedores que las microalgas han alcanzado en la reducción de compuestos contaminantes de efluentes de diferentes sectores, atribuido a su capacidad de adaptación, tolerancia y/o supervivencia con variadas concentraciones de contaminantes. Además, resaltar la viabilidad de la biotecnología de microalgas para la implementación de fotobiorreactores que permiten la operación de sistemas cerrados en régimen continuo o semicontinuo, pudiendo optimizar el cultivo de microalgas en condiciones específicas.

Headnote

ABSTRACT

Objective: This research has the aim of carrying out a bibliography review of effluent treatment in the industrial sector using microalgae as a process of biological treatment to reduce the concentration of pollutants.

Theoretical framework: Water availability is a global problem and it is necessary to implement wastewater treatment processes to reduce the concentration of organic, inorganic, and toxic pollutants and others. Among the stages of the wastewater treatment train there are the biological processes where organic matter is degraded by microorganisms present.

Methodology: databases as Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer, and NCBI, were consulted to collect scientific and academic documents, including documents from 2005 to 2024.

Results and Discussion: the benefit of using microalgae and cyanobacteria as a biological treatment is observed mainly in the reduction of contaminants compounds, also the reduction of the presence of color, odor and fecal coliforms in the wastewater.

Research implications: demonstrate the promising results on the reduction of pollutants concentration in effluents from different sectors when microalgae are included in the process; its utility is attributed to their adaption, tolerance, and survival capacity in various concentrations of contaminants. Also, the viability of the microalgal biotechnology with the implementation of photobioreactors who allow the operations of closed systems in continuous or semi-continuous optimizing the cultivation of microalgae under specific conditions.

Keywords: Biotechnology, Microalgae, Photobioreactors, Biological Treatment.

RESUMO

Objetivo: Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica do tratamento de efluentes no setor industrial utilizando microalgas como processo de tratamento biológico para reduzir a concentração de poluentes.

Estrutura teórica: A disponibilidade de água é um problema global e é necessário implementar processos de tratamento de águas residuais para reduzir a concentração de poluentes orgânicos, inorgânicos e tóxicos e outros. Entre as etapas da estação de tratamento de águas residuais há os processos biológicos em que a matéria orgânica é degradada por microrganismos presentes.

Metodologia: bancos de dados como Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer e NCBI, foram consultados para coletar documentos científicos e acadêmicos, incluindo documentos de 2005 a 2024.

Resultados e Discussão: o benefício do uso de microalgas e cianobactérias como tratamento biológico é observado principalmente na redução de compostos contaminantes, e também na redução da presença de cor, odor e coliformes fecais nas águas residuais.

Implicações da pesquisa: demonstrar os resultados promissores na redução da concentração de poluentes em efluentes de diferentes setores quando microalgas são incluídas no processo; sua utilidade é atribuída à sua adaptação, tolerância e capacidade de sobrevivência em várias concentrações de contaminantes. Além disso, a viabilidade da biotecnologia de microalgas com a implementação de fotobiorreatores que permitem a operação de sistemas fechados em contínuo ou semicontínuo otimizando o cultivo de microalgas em condições específicas.

Palavras-chave: Biotecnologia, Microalgas, Fotorreatores, Tratamento Biológico

RESUMEN

Objetivo: Este trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar una revisión bibliográfica sobre el tratamiento de efluentes del sector industrial empleando microalgas en el un proceso para disminuir la concentración de contaminantes.

Marco teórico: En la actualidad la disponibilidad de agua es un problema mundial y el implementar procesos de tratamiento de aguas residuales puede disminuir la concentración de compuestos orgánicos, inorgánicos, tóxicos entre otros más, es necesario. Entre las etapas del tren de tratamiento de aguas residuales se encuentran los procesos biológicos donde la materia orgánica es degradada por microorganismos presentes.

Metodología: Se consultaron fuentes como Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer y NCBI para recabar documentos de carácter científico y académico, abarcando del 2005 al 2024.

Resultados y discusión: El beneficio del empleo de microalgas y cianobacterias en el tratamiento biológico, se observa principalmente en la disminución de compuestos contaminantes, además, de disminuir la presencia de color, olor y coliformes fecales en el agua residual.

Implicaciones de la investigación: Demostrar los resultados prometedores que las microalgas han alcanzado en la reducción de compuestos contaminantes de efluentes de diferentes sectores, atribuido a su capacidad de adaptación, tolerancia y/o supervivencia con variadas concentraciones de contaminantes. Además, resaltar la viabilidad de la biotecnología de microalgas para la implementación de fotobiorreactores que permiten la operación de sistemas cerrados en régimen continuo o semicontinuo, pudiendo optimizar el cultivo de microalgas en condiciones específicas.

Palabras clave: Biotecnología, Microalgas, Fotobiorreactores, Tratamiento Biológico.

1 INTRODUCTION

Water is one of the indispensable natural resources for life on earth. At present, the availability of safe drinking water is a global problem due to demand in the domestic sector, population growth and food production that affect its quality, availability and consumption (López-Morales, 2017; Dantas & Cabral-Sales, 2009)Oh, yeah.

The sectors that use water the most globally are industry and agriculture with 22% and 70% respectively. However, the industrial sector presents the greatest challenge due to the concentration of heavy metals, toxic, organic and inorganic compounds in its wastewater. In addition, industrial effluents are usually discharged into water bodies when pollutants are still found in them (Koncagül et al., 2024)Oh, yeah.

The problem of water pollution can cause toxic compounds and/or pollutants to be transferred to the food chain; this due to its direct capture through plants and other aquatic primary producers, and can even bioaccumulate in the ecosystem.

Water scarcity can be caused by unavailability, due to overexploitation of the resource or inability to use it due to the presence of high concentrations of pollutants that put ecosystems and human health at risk. Therefore, the objective of this work was to carry out a literature review on the treatment of effluents of the industrial sector using microalgae as a biological treatment process to reduce the concentration of pollutants.

2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

In the food sector there are companies that use water the most in their processes to obtain their products. An example of this is the dairy and alcoholic beverage industries, which are some of the most demanded products internationally (Álvarez, 2013; Chávez-Parga et al., 2016). According to Bermeo-Garay et al. (2017)) and Padin-González & Díaz-Fernández, (2009) for each kilogram of cheese about 9 L of whey is obtained and for each liter of mezcal about 15 L of vinasse is obtained; these by-products are considered harmful to the environment for their effects on the soil, water, flora and fauna due to their acidic pH, high concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), high concentrations of nitrogen sources, color, phosphorus, turbidity, in addition to carbohydrates, calcium, chlorides, total solids and suspended. Therefore, its discharge can decrease soil fertility and lead to the death of aquatic life if there is no pre-treatment prior to discharge.

In the case of Mexico for cheese and mezcal production between the years of 2020 and 2023, a growth rate between 2,000 and 13,000 kg per year was reported for cheese production (Table 1). In the case of mezcal production, there is an increasing trend, although not constant, for 2022 production increased by 74% compared to the previous year, but for 2023 production decreased by 13% compared to 2022 (COMERCAM 2024; Statista Research Department 2024)Oh, yeah.

The effluents generated by the production of cheese and mezcal calculated based on the production data reported by COMERCAM, 2024 and Statista Research Department, 2024 and considering the average volumes generated per unit of production, present a significant increase per year (Table 2). This causes them to be considered as a danger to ecosystems and water bodies, both by the volumes generated and by the pollutant load of these effluents. The potential risks of using these sources, makes it necessary to use today, green technologies in order to produce products through processes that are respectful of the environment through the use of technological and biotechnological alternatives, without affecting the quality of their final products.

2.1 INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT TREATMENT PROCESSES

Applying efficient treatment systems to wastewater generated by companies in the food sector has a positive impact. This is achieved by applying unit operations and processes that are chosen based on the characteristics of the effluent to be treated and the degree of purification to be achieved. These systems are composed of stages of elimination of suspended matter (Table 3), and of elimination of dissolved matter through physicochemical processes and biological treatments (Table 4); these stages are colloquially known as primary and secondary treatment (Rodríguez Fernández-Alba et al., 2006)Oh, yeah.

2.2 BIOTECHNOLOGICAL TREATMENTS FROM MICROALGAE

Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary science involving different branches of knowledge (chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetic engineering, molecular biology) with the goal of employing microorganisms to provide products and services. These organisms can be applied in bioremediation, to reduce, remove and transform toxic compounds present in the wastewater generated by the different industrial processes of the food sector, in addition to being able to obtain different products and services with the biomass obtained (Bisang et al., 2009)Oh, yeah.

Research within the biotechnology of microalgae and cyanobacteria has had a great impact in recent decades due to its usefulness for different purposes, one of them being bioremediation. Microalgae are photosynthetic eukaryotic microorganisms of colonial, unicellular or filamentous structure with sizes from 10µm to 200µm; these organisms can present an autotrophic (production of biomass from inorganic matter and light) or mixotrophic (production of biomass through photosynthesis and organic compounds simultaneously) metabolism. On the other hand, cyanobacteria are photosynthetic oxygenic bacteria that contain chlorophyll a, like microalgae, their metabolic diversity allows to be used to eliminate contaminants in wastewater treatments (Pérez-García & Bashan, 2015; Visentin et al., 2024)Oh, yeah.

The growth of microalgal biomass can be carried out in artificial ponds and lagoons in which the photosynthesis process is carried out with solar energy. These systems have the advantage of a simple mode of operation, good light capture and efficient mixing so that nutrients and microalgae are found evenly (Martínez-Roldán & Cañizares-Villanueva, 2015)Oh, yeah.

Another alternative for the production of biomass from algae, are bioreactors that represent an excellent option to make the growth of biomass more efficient. They are defined in the case of microalgae as photobioreactors, due to the need for light supply; their purpose is to maintain and control the reactions within it, allowing a better distribution of light, being able to work with crops of a single species, for prolonged times and controlling the mixing so that the consumption of nutrients is efficiently. The presence of the color of the effluents and the concentration of nutrients can be reduced by 50% due to the adaptation of the microalgae in the operating system in the photobioreactors used for the treatment of wastewater (Fig. 1).

2.3 OPERATING MODES IN PHOTOBIOREACTORS

The operation of microalgae culture systems can be carried out in batch (batch), continuous or semi-continuous mode (Fig. 2). In batch systems, the residence time of the crop in the photobioreactor is concluded when the available substrate is consumed by the biomass accumulated in the photobioreactor. On the other hand, in the case of continuous systems, due to the entry of nutrients and exit of biomass and culture medium in a constant way, there is no accumulation of biomass within the photobioreactor. Semicontinuous systems come from the combination of the batch and the semicontinuous, that is, the entry of nutrients and output of products (biomass and culture medium) occurs intermittently, being able to modify the volume supplied and the frequency of replacement, in order to improve the efficiency of the system (Loera Burnes, 2003)Oh, yeah. In microalgae, the operation modes in batch mode can have residence times between 10-20 days. In the case of semi-continuous, the mode of operation can reach a residence time of up to 60 days (Diaz-Parra et al. 2024; Escorihuela et al. 2007; Mata et al. 2012)Oh, yeah.

3 METHODOLOGY

For the realization of this work, sources such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer, NCBI were consulted, from which scientific and academic documents such as Articles, Books, Book Chapters, Thesis, Technical Reports were collected. The search was restricted to documents published from 2005 to date.

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the use of microalgae and cyanobacteria for the treatment of effluents, some microorganisms stand out such as Spirulina, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlamydomonas, Desmodesmus and Stigeoclonium nanum that have been used for the treatment of different types of wastewater, have shown positive results in the reduction of polluting compounds, the presence of color, odor, fecal coliforms, etc (Franco Martínez et al., 2017; Rojo-Gómez, 2022; Sousa et al., 2021; Martínez-Roldán et al., 2024)Oh, yeah.

Exposing microalgae to highly toxic effluents has the advantage that they can adapt to the pollutant load and survive despite the presence of toxic compounds. This is thanks to their metabolism, which, regardless of nutrients, have the ability to activate different metabolic pathways that allow them not to inhibit, subsist or even grow in effluents.

Some of the different applications of the use of microalgae in phycoremediation, including the use of mixed or monospecific cultures for nitrogenous compounds, phosphorus and COD. This type of process can achieve efficiencies greater than 40% in the treatment of industrial and domestic effluents until the removal of heavy metals and emerging pollutants through biosorption, in which freshwater microalgae are one of the most used species (Diaz-Parra et al. 2024; Morales-Romero et al. 2024; Rojo-Gómez 2022; Martínez-Roldán et al. 2024)Oh, yeah. These biotechnological processes contribute to sustainability, by virtue of the phyco-remediation capacity in which the concentrations of polluting compounds are bio-transformed and/or reduced (Table 5) (Abdelfattah et al., 2023).

Regarding the reduction of effluent pollutants of the Brewing, Distilled Beverages and Dairy industry using freshwater microalgae, the results for phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon, values greater than 50% are reached by applying residence times between 11 and 14 days in a batch operational mode (Mata et al., 2012; Rojo-Gómez, 2022). This shows that microalgae, like cyanobacteria, can consume nitrogen above 50% independently if the effluent is from the dairy industry, distilled beverages, metallurgical industry, household effluent, among others. Vela-García et al., 2019 Red-Gomez, 2022, report that Pleurococcus sp., Stigeoclonium nanum and Chlorella vulgaris achieve similar nitrogen intakes as N-NO3 (Diaz-Parra et al. 2024; Rojo-Gómez 2022; Ruiz-Reza et al. 2024; Martínez-Roldán et al. 2024)Oh, yeah.

Another strategy when using photosynthetic microorganisms is to employ mixed cultures of microalgae and cyanobacteria that different authors such as Escorihuela et al., 2007 and Vela-García et al., 2019 They report that when performing mixed crops, either in urban effluents or metallurgical effluents, cell growth is obtained in the same way regardless if the operational mode is batch or semi-continuous. It was mentioned that, if a comparison of biomass production is made, between semi-continuous mode and batch, due to the residence time in which the semi-continuous system is carried out, the biomass production is higher.

One of the main advantages of the use of cyanobacteria or microalgae is that two purposes can be achieved in the production of biomass that can be commercialized since Oliveira-Marinho & Del Aguila-Hoffman, 2023 and Abdelfattah et al., 2023 propose that the biomass biorefinery of microalgae can be focused for the generation of biofertilizers, bioplastics, biodiesel, food supplements, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and cosmetology. This allows an added value and generate a sustainable technology, which leaves for future generations a lot of research field for both the development of cultivation methods, biomass collection.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The use of the different configurations of photobioreactors, allows to improve the growth of microorganisms photosynthetically due to the optimization of the relationship between light distribution and mixing for the different species of microalgae and cyanobacteria.

The processes of elimination of contaminants from wastewater effluents with microalgae according to the different authors consulted in this work, are considered effective. In addition, the possibility of reducing production costs of microalgal biomass can be generated since the biomass resulting from these wastewater treatment processes can be used to obtain products of interest, due to its content of lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, antioxidants, among others.

References

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