REMOVAL OF TOXICITY FROM THE WASTEWATER BY USING MICROALGAE

Abstract

Rigorous research works are going on in the field of wastewater treatment. The recent research of
wastewater treatment by using microalgae is also proving more effective in removal of toxicity from wastewater.
Microalgae have developed an extensive spectrum of mechanisms (extracellular and intracellular) to cope with heavy
metal toxicity. Their wide-spread occurrence along with their ability to grow and concentrate heavy metals, ascertains
their suitability in practical applications of waste-water bioremediation. Heavy metal uptake by microalgae is affirmed
to be superior to the prevalent physicochemical processes employed in the removal of toxic heavy metals. This review
summarizes several areas of heavy metal remediation from a microalgal perspective and provides an overview of various
practical avenues of this technology. It particularly details heavy metals and microalgae which have been extensively
studied, and provides a schematic representation of the mechanisms of heavy metal remediation in microalgae.