A review on algae biosorption for the removal of hazardous pollutants from wastewater: Limiting factors, prospects and recommendations*

Heavy metals, dyes and pharmaceutical pollutants in water environment are considered as serious threat to the human and animal health globally. Rapid development of industrialization and agricultural activities are the major source for eliminating the toxic pollutants into the aquatic environment. Several conventional treatment methods have been suggested for the removal of emerging contaminants from wastewater. Algal biosorption, among other strategies and techniques, is demonstrating to be a limited technical remedy that is more focused and inherently more efficient and helps remove dangerous contaminants from water sources. The different environmental effects of harmful contaminants, including heavy metals, dyes, and pharmaceutical chemicals, as well as their sources, were briefly compiled in the current review. This paper provides a comprehensive definition of the future possibilities in heavy compound decomposition by using algal technology, from aggregation to numerous biosorption procedures. Functionalized materials produced from algal sources were clearly proposed. This review further highlights the limiting factors of algal biosorption to eliminate the hazardous material. Finally, this study showed how the existence of algae indicates a potential, effective, affordable, and sustainable sorbent biomaterial for minimizing environmental pollution.

Automated summary

Heavy metals, dyes, and pharmaceutical pollutants in water pose a serious threat to human and animal health globally. Industrial and agricultural activities are the primary sources of these toxic pollutants in aquatic environments. Algal biosorption, a more focused and efficient method, shows potential in removing dangerous contaminants from water sources. This study provides a comprehensive definition of the future possibilities in heavy compound decomposition using algal technology and highlights the limiting factors of algal biosorption in eliminating hazardous materials.