A comprehensive review on microalgae-driven heavy metals removal from industrial wastewater using living and nonliving microalgae

The growth of industry has caused heavy metals (HMs) to become one of the most important water pollutants because they are toxic and hurt the environment. As a consequence of HMs contamination and its effects on the environment and public health, there is a growing desire to develop a sustainable strategy for removing HMs from industrial wastewater. HMs have been sequestered using a number of traditional eradication methods. Unfortunately, for large-scale projects, the majority of these methods are expensive, require rigorous control and continuous monitoring, and are inefficient for the removal of hazardous materials. As a sustainable technique for removing HMs from industrial effluent, the use of both living and nonliving microalgal cells in microalgae-based bioremediation is investigated in this context. Additionally, it has many advantages over conventional remediation techniques, including being easily accessible, inexpensive, effective at removing hazardous metals, and environmentally friendly. This review seeks to provide exhaustive information to support the development of microalgal-based HMs bioremediation. It includes the selection of suitable microalgae strains for HM removal, the mechanisms involved (biosorption and bioaccumulation), and the factors influencing the removal of HMs from industrial effluent, among other topics. In addition, different types of biosorption models have been addressed to predict the efficiency and effectiveness of HM removal by microalgal biomass. To conclude, this study emphasizes the critical role of microalgae in advancing wastewater treatment technologies and promoting environmental protection.