New Prospects for Modified Algae in Heavy Metal Adsorption

Cheng SY 1 , Show PL 2 , Lau BF 1 , Chang JS 3 , Ling TC 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 3 Research Center for Energy Technology and Strategy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Research Center for Circular Economy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; College of Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taichung 407, Taiwan
  • 4 Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected]
Trends Biotechnol, 2019 Nov;37(11):1255-1268.
PMID: 31174882 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.04.007

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution is one of the most pervasive environmental problems globally. Novel finely tuned algae have been proposed as a means to improve the efficacy and selectivity of heavy metal biosorption. This article reviews current research on selective algal heavy metal adsorption and critically discusses the performance of novel biosorbents. We emphasize emerging state-of-the-art techniques that customize algae for enhanced performance and selectivity, particularly molecular and chemical extraction techniques as well as nanoparticle (NP) synthesis approaches. The mechanisms and processes for developing novel algal biosorbents are also presented. Finally, we discuss the applications, challenges, and future prospects for modified algae in heavy metal biosorption.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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