Current World Environment

Micro Algae Based Technology for Antibiotic Waste Water Treatment

Aswin Lekshman¹ , Nitha Balan¹ ^* , Lincy Davin² , Noha Laj³ and Harikrishnan ⁴

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Industrial Microbiology, Sree Ayyappa College, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala India

² Cashew Export Promotion Council of India, Centre of University of Kerala, Kollam, Kerala India

³ Gregorian Institute of Health Sciences, (Jain Deemed to be University), Kangazha, Kottayam, Kerala India

⁴ South Park Institute of Hotel Management, Trivandrum, Kerala India

Corresponding author Email: drnithamicro@proton.me

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.20.3.4

Abstract

Antibiotic residues in wastewater pose serious environmental and public health challenges, necessitating sustainable and effective treatment methods. Unfortunately, wastewater including antibiotics is unable to be safely processed by conventional approaches like those employed in wastewater treatment plants. Water shortages throughout the world will be among the main challenges to society and the economy of the twenty-first century. Microalgae based biotechnologies have emerged as promising solutions, offering eco-friendly, cost effective, and solar driven remediation strategies. Multiple mechanisms underpin antibiotic removal by microalgae, including bioadsorption, bioaccumulation, biodegradation, photodegradation, hydrolysis, and surface adsorption. The efficacy of these pathways varies with microalgal strain, operational conditions, and specific antibiotic structure. Many algae such as Chlorella sorokiniana, Monoraphidium contortum, Scenedesmus species can efficiently remove antibiotics from waste water. In conclusion, microalgae-based technologies present a sustainable, multifunctional approach to antibiotic removal coupling water purification with biomass generation and CO2 mitigation yet their translation from laboratory to full-scale systems hinges on addressing operational constraints and optimizing hybrid designs.This review outline some microalgae-based technologies and their significant aid in the treatment of antibiotic wastewater which provide information for developing robust, large scale, sustainable systems for the effective removal of antibiotics from wastewater.

Keywords

Antibiotics; Bioaccumulation; Bioadsorption; Biodegradation; Micro algae; Wastewater treatment

Copy the following to cite this article:

Lekshman A, Balan N, Davin L, Laj N, Harikrishnan H. Micro Algae Based Technology for Antibiotic Waste Water Treatment. Curr World Environ 2025;20(3). DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.20.3.4

Copy the following to cite this URL:

Lekshman A, Balan N, Davin L, Laj N, Harikrishnan H. Micro Algae Based Technology for Antibiotic Waste Water Treatment. Curr World Environ 2025;20(3).

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