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Application of Microalgae in Wastewater Treatment pp 321–339Cite as

Potential and Application of Diatoms for Industry-Specific Wastewater Treatment

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Abstract

Increased production of industrial wastewaters is an inevitable part of the present developing world, but majority of these waters are highly toxic to not only humans but to other biota, if they are released as such into ponds, streams, rivers, and oceans. Although it is obligatory to remove certain nutrient and other chemicals from industrial effluents before their release, this practice is overlooked by many industries especially in developing countries. This practice can be attributed to nonavailability of low-cost eco-friendly alternatives to the present chemical-based technologies. The diatom algae possess enormous potential in removal of pollutants like organic chemical toxins and heavy metal pollutants and rather than N and P from predominantly industrial wastewaters. The industrial wastewater is characterized by the low concentration of nitrogen and phosphorous, poor light penetration in colored effluents, and elevated concentrations of metals, which are not favorable for algal growth rates. So it is paramount to select right kind of algae to treat industrial wastewaters. Diatoms are unique class of algae with tremendous diversity and are significantly different in cellular and metabolic potential from other algae. Diatoms are responsible for about 20% of the total photosynthetic CO2 fixation. Diatom algae are pioneers in controlling and biomonitoring of organic pollutants, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, PCBs, pesticides, etc. in aquatic ecosystems. Heavy metal resistance was shown in several diatoms like Cyclotella cryptica, Skeletonema costatum, Cylindrotheca fusiformis, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and Thalassiosira pseudonana. Although diatoms are extensively studied for their role as bioindicators of water pollution, their application in phycoremediation of polluted water bodies has just started. This chapter reviews the current research on the potential advantages and lacuna pertinent to the utilization of diatoms for sustainable approach of industrial wastewaters remediation.

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Acknowledgment

The research was funded by Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, BT/PR15650/AAQ/3/815/2016.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, U.P., India

    Archana Tiwari

  2. International Crops Research Institute for Semi -arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India

    Thomas Kiran Marella

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  1. Archana Tiwari
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  2. Thomas Kiran Marella
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology – Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Sanjay Kumar Gupta

  2. Institute for Water and Wastewater Technologies, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

    Faizal Bux

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Tiwari, A., Marella, T.K. (2019). Potential and Application of Diatoms for Industry-Specific Wastewater Treatment. In: Gupta, S.K., Bux, F. (eds) Application of Microalgae in Wastewater Treatment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13913-1_15

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