Algal Technologies for Wastewater Treatment and Biofuels Production: An Integrated Approach for Environmental Management

The algae play very important role in mobilizing elements in the aquatic environments and received more attention in recent years as they have ability to absorb and detoxify heavy metals (Ye et al. 2012). Synthesis of phytochelatins and metallothioneins by algae helps in forming complexes with heavy metals and their detoxification (Suresh and Ravishankar 2004). Heavy metal uptake and accumulation in algae from wastewater depend on adsorption process and uptake metabolism (Lomax et al. 2011). For removing organic and inorganic contaminants, nutrients, and metals from wastewater different microalgae have been used (Hirooka et al. 2005; Fierro et al. 2008; Jácome-Pilco et al. 2009). Wastewater treatment by algae is more feasible due to their low cost and high efficiency as they remove contaminants by uptake and accumulation. Algae are capable of biotransforming and mineralizing nutrients and metals growth and development (Semple et al. 1999). Therefore, an integrated algal system can be utilized for wastewater treatment to remove organic matter, nutrients (N&P) from industrial effluents, sewage, and other wastes (Sivakumara et al. 2012).