An application of ecosystem services provided by microalgae for bioremediation strategies

Microalgae provide ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being, and they are directly used for different technological applications. Among others is the improvement of water quality, which is an essential natural resource jeopardized by anthropogenic activities and climate change. The present study is performed under international Italian-French co-supervision, and it tests marine and freshwater microalgae as agents for wastewater treatment. The general intent is to apply sustainable strategies to recover and valorize liquid effluents that are difficult to treat with traditional methods. In practice, different wastewaters are tested as culture media for microalgae, then the efficacy of microalgae to remove nutrients and pollutants from wastewater is evaluated. A Multi-Cultivator system (PSI, Czech Republic) is used to test bioremediation under controlled light, temperature, and aeration conditions. Overall, the project will implement a sustainable and circular approach to water resource management, taking advantage of the ecological services provided by microalgae. The first output will be the selection of efficient microalgae for the bioremediation of a specific liquid waste. Subsequently, a scale-up of the process will provide treated water and microalgae biomass, both reusable for further applications. This study would contribute to the effort for sustainable development and the implementation of Circular Economy strategies, being part of the GRIP project "Green processes for industrial productions and cost-effective effluents valorization", funded by Next Generation Europe in North-West Italy.