Knowledge Agora



Scientific Article details

Title Microalgae-assisted green bioremediation of food-processing wastewater: A sustainable approach toward a circular economy concept
ID_Doc 28346
Authors Najar-Almanzor, CE; Velasco-Iglesias, KD; Nunez-Ramos, R; Uribe-Velázquez, T; Solis-Bañuelos, M; Fuentes-Carrasco, OJ; Chairez, I; García-Cayuela, T; Carrillo-Nieves, D
Title Microalgae-assisted green bioremediation of food-processing wastewater: A sustainable approach toward a circular economy concept
Year 2023
Published
DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118774
Abstract Wastewater disposal is a major environmental issue that pollutes water, causing eutrophication, habitat destruction, and economic impact. In Mexico, food-processing effluents pose a huge environmental threat due to their excessive nutrient content and their large volume discharged every year. Some of the most harmful residues are tequila vinasses, nejayote, and cheese whey. Each liter of tequila generates 13-15 L of vinasses, each kilogram of cheese produces approximately 9 kg of cheese whey, and each kilogram of nixtamalized maize results in the production of 2.5-3.3 L of nejayote. A promising strategy to reduce the contamination derived from wastewater is through microalgae-based wastewater treatment. Microalgae have a high adaptability to hostile environments and they can feed on the nutrients in the effluents to grow. Moreover, to increase the viability, profitability, and value of wastewater treatments, a microalgae biorefinery could be proposed. This review will focus on the circular bioeconomy scheme focused on the simultaneous food-processing wastewater treatment and its use to grow microalgae biomass to produce added-value compounds. This strategy allows for the revalorization of wastewater, decreases contamination of water sources, and produces valuable compounds that promote human health such as phycobiliproteins, carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids, exopolysaccharides, mycosporine-like amino acids, and as a source of clean energy: biodiesel, biogas, and bioethanol.
Author Keywords Microalgae; Biorefinery; Food-processing wastewater; Circular economy
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:001066379300001
WoS Category Environmental Sciences
Research Area Environmental Sciences & Ecology
PDF
Similar atricles
Scroll