Algal-based membrane bioreactors: a sustainable Frontier for removing emerging
pollutants from wastewater
#MMPMID41384074
Raza N
; Ali Z
; Manzoor S
; Azzouz A
; Aziz K
; Hashim S
; Khairy M
; Salem ME
; Chaudhary AA
RSC Adv
2025[Dec]; 15
(57
): 49030-49062
PMID41384074
show ga
Algal-based membrane bioreactors (AMBRs) have gained attention due to the
increasing need for sustainable wastewater treatment methods. These reactors use
membrane filtration and algal-bacterial activities to remove pollutants and
recover biomass at the same time. This review provides a critical overview of the
latest progress in AMBR systems regarding their configuration, membrane
materials, pollutant removal mechanisms, and operation performance. Special
emphasis has been laid on the chemical and biochemical mechanisms of nutrient and
emerging pollutants (EPs) removal, involving adsorption, biodegradation, and
photo-oxidative transformation in the algal-bacterial consortia. Further
discussion covers the roles of membrane chemistry, surface modification, and
fouling behavior concerning physicochemical interactions between EPs, algal
metabolites, and membrane surfaces. Comparison data relying on removal
efficiencies among different types of AMBR will be analyzed for highlighting the
effect of algal strain, reactor design, and operating parameters. Moreover,
emerging anti-fouling strategies, economic considerations, and perspectives on
biomass valorization is summarized. Contrasting to most of the earlier reviews,
this contribution provides a chemistry-oriented synthesis that links material
properties to bioprocess mechanisms and reactor performance and may guide future
research and optimization of AMBR technology for sustainable wastewater
management.
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