Algal-based membrane reactor for the remediation of emerging contaminants from wastewater: Mechanism, synthesis and technological advancement

With an increase in the world's economy and the human population, there's a growing need for drinking water suitable for consumption. Water management might inevitably become the top priority on a global scale. The rapidly evolving bioremediation landscape is a major driver for the development of sustainable solutions that can provide value beyond just environmental remediation. Phycoremediation or algae-mediated remediation is attracting the most attention because of its captivating sustainability characteristics, its ability to eliminate odors, fouling, and toxins, its ability to eliminate many common as well as emerging contaminants from the gaseous and aqueous environment, and its ability to produce biomass for a variety of value-added products. Algae-based wastewater treatment plants like bioreactors are gaining more attention than traditional membrane reactors as they are environmentally friendly and sustainable. Due to the non-function of traditional municipal wastewater treatment plants, emerging pollutants such as personal care products, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, and mono- and polyaromatic hydrocarbons are discharged into the waterbody regularly causing harmful effects to aquatic lives. Algae-based membrane bioreactors (AMBRs), are the most advanced technology used to remove emerging contaminants (ECs) found in wastewater. Furthermore, mixed algae-MBRs become more popular than unialgal MBRs due to mutualistic synergism. Advancements in cylindrical and rectangular-shaped AMBRs were also found better for the bioremediation of ECs. In conclusion, various ECs and their remediation mechanisms by different algal strains and sustainable technologies are discussed in the present communication. Most importantly, modifications of AMBRs with microfiltration membrane or osmotic membrane or integrated with activated sludge have been considered in this research. •Algae-based membrane bioreactors are suggested to perform better for phycoremediation.•The assimilation mechanisms like biosorption or bioaccumulation are effective for the remediation.•Algal strains are very specific to emerging contaminants.•Physicochemical parameters like temperature, pH, CO2, light intensity are essential for phycoremediation.