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Algal cultivation for treating wastewater in African developing countries: A review
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Algal cultivation for treating wastewater in African developing countries: A review

E.G. Nwoba, A. Vadiveloo, C.N. Ogbonna, B.E. Ubi, J.C. Ogbonna and N.R. Moheimani
CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water, Vol.48(3), Article 2000052
2020
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Abstract

The tremendous increase in human population and rapid decline in freshwater resources have necessitated the development of innovative and sustainable wastewater treatment methods. Africa as a developing continent is currently backing on sustainable solutions to tackle impending water resource crisis brought forward by wastewater‐induced environmental pollution and climate change. Microalgae‐based wastewater treatment systems represent an emerging technology that is capable of meeting the new demand for improved wastewater treatment and climate change mitigation strategies in an environmentally friendly manner. This review critically looks at the opportunities of Africa in harnessing and exploiting the potential of microalgae for the treatment of various wastewaters based on their capacity to recycle nutrients and for concurrent production of valuable biomass and several useful metabolites. Wastewaters, if improperly/completely untreated and discharged, simultaneously pollute freshwater sources and present significant health and environmental risks. Nutrients in wastewater can be utilized and recovered in the form of marketable biomass and products when integrated with the cultivation of microalgae. Several valuable bioproducts can be generated from wastewater‐grown microalgal biomass including biofuels, biofertilizers, animal feed, and various bioactive compounds. This biorefinery approach would most certainly improve wastewater treatment process economics, enhancing the technical feasibility of algae‐based wastewater remediation in African countries.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#6 Clean Water and Sanitation

Source: InCites

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.171 Photoproductivity
3.171.477 Microalgae Biotechnology
Web Of Science research areas
Environmental Sciences
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Water Resources
ESI research areas
Environment/Ecology
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