title: Potential use of algae for heavy metal bioremediation, a critical review.
abstract: Algae have several industrial applications that can lower the cost of biofuel co-production. Among these co-production applications, environmental and wastewater bioremediation are increasingly important. Heavy metal pollution and its implications for public health and the environment have led to increased interest in developing environmental biotechnology approaches. We review the potential for algal biosorption and/or neutralization of the toxic effects of heavy metal ions, primarily focusing on their cellular structure, pretreatment, modification, as well as potential application of genetic engineering in biosorption performance. We evaluate pretreatment, immobilization, and factors affecting biosorption capacity, such as initial metal ion concentration, biomass concentration, initial pH, time, temperature, and interference of multi metal ions and introduce molecular tools to develop engineered algal strains with higher biosorption capacity and selectivity. We conclude that consideration of these parameters can lead to the development of low-cost micro and macroalgae cultivation with high bioremediation potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, 1436-91779, Iran.
authors.forename: Amin Keyvan
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Zeraatkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, 1436-91779, Iran. Electronic address: h.ahmadzadeh@um.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmadzadeh
authors.affiliation: Genetic Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, Semnan University, Semnan, 35131-19111, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad Farhad
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Talebi
authors.affiliation: Algae R&D Centre, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Australia.
authors.forename: Navid R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Moheimani
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Information Technology, Murdoch University, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: McHenry
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000378:metabolism; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007477:Ions; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012624:Seaweed / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Algae biomass; Biofuel; Bioremediation; Biosorption capacity; Heavy metals