Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

108
Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to...
108
Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

23.1K
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
23.1K
Biofuels01:25

Biofuels

98
The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...
98
Green Algae01:21

Green Algae

1.1K
Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
1.1K
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium01:25

Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium

79
Microorganisms play a critical role in the transformation and immobilization of uranium in contaminated environments through four main pathways: bioreduction, biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization. These mechanisms reduce uranium’s toxicity and prevent its migration through groundwater systems, offering sustainable approaches for in situ bioremediation.Bioreduction of UraniumBioreduction is driven by anaerobic bacteria such as certain strains of Geobacter and Shewanella,...
79
Microbial Leaching01:27

Microbial Leaching

169
Microbial leaching, also known as bioleaching, is an environmentally favorable method for extracting metals from low-grade ores using specific microorganisms. This biotechnological approach is particularly valuable for mining operations targeting copper, gold, and uranium, where traditional extraction methods may be economically or environmentally impractical.Copper Leaching and Microbial CatalysisIn copper bioleaching, crushed ore is arranged into heaps and irrigated with a dilute sulfuric...
169

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Letter to the Editor: A Scalable Alternative to In Vitro Contracture Testing for Incidentally Discovered Genetic Variants for Malignant Hyperthermia.

Seminars in cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia·2026
Same author

Plant Extracellular Vesicles with Complex Molecular Cargo: A Cross-Kingdom Conduit for MicroRNA-Directed RNA Silencing.

Genes·2026
Same author

Wildfire legacies on pyrogenic carbon stocks in Amazonian peatlands.

Communications earth & environment·2025
Same author

Climatic and Edaphic Drivers of Soil Organic Carbon and Pyrogenic Carbon Stocks Across Elevation and Disturbance Gradients in Colombian Andean Forests.

Global change biology·2025
Same author

Trends in operative time and patient outcomes in robotic colostomy reversal: surgeons' short-term pain for patients' long-term gain.

Surgical endoscopy·2025
Same author

Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Composition of Australasian Hair and Fingernails in a Global Context.

Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Coupling Carbon Capture from a Power Plant with Semi-automated Open Raceway Ponds for Microalgae Cultivation
08:17

Coupling Carbon Capture from a Power Plant with Semi-automated Open Raceway Ponds for Microalgae Cultivation

Published on: August 14, 2020

6.2K

Bioremediation for coal-fired power stations using macroalgae.

David A Roberts1, Nicholas A Paul1, Michael I Bird2

  • 1MACRO - the Centre for Macroalgal Resources and Biotechnology, College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia.

Journal of Environmental Management
|February 4, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study demonstrates macroalgae bioremediation of metal-contaminated wastewater from a coal-fired power station. Cultivated algae sequestered metals, enabling potential zero discharge and producing biochar for soil amendment.

Keywords:
AlgaeBiocharBioremediationCarbon captureCoalWaste water

More Related Videos

Cultivation of Green Microalgae in Bubble Column Photobioreactors and an Assay for Neutral Lipids
11:08

Cultivation of Green Microalgae in Bubble Column Photobioreactors and an Assay for Neutral Lipids

Published on: January 7, 2019

23.0K
Microalgae Cultivation and Biomass Quantification in a Bench-Scale Photobioreactor with Corrosive Flue Gases
08:41

Microalgae Cultivation and Biomass Quantification in a Bench-Scale Photobioreactor with Corrosive Flue Gases

Published on: December 19, 2019

11.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Coupling Carbon Capture from a Power Plant with Semi-automated Open Raceway Ponds for Microalgae Cultivation
08:17

Coupling Carbon Capture from a Power Plant with Semi-automated Open Raceway Ponds for Microalgae Cultivation

Published on: August 14, 2020

6.2K
Cultivation of Green Microalgae in Bubble Column Photobioreactors and an Assay for Neutral Lipids
11:08

Cultivation of Green Microalgae in Bubble Column Photobioreactors and an Assay for Neutral Lipids

Published on: January 7, 2019

23.0K
Microalgae Cultivation and Biomass Quantification in a Bench-Scale Photobioreactor with Corrosive Flue Gases
08:41

Microalgae Cultivation and Biomass Quantification in a Bench-Scale Photobioreactor with Corrosive Flue Gases

Published on: December 19, 2019

11.1K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Biotechnology
  • Industrial Wastewater Treatment
  • Phycology

Background:

  • Coal-fired power stations generate metal-contaminated wastewater, posing environmental challenges.
  • Water scarcity necessitates innovative wastewater treatment and recycling solutions in water-limited industries.
  • Macroalgae offer a productive resource for bioremediation of contaminated effluents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate the industrial-scale integration of macroalgal bioremediation for coal-fired power station wastewater.
  • To assess the efficacy of freshwater macroalgae (Oedogonium) in sequestering metals from contaminated ash water.
  • To evaluate the potential of algal biomass and its pyrolysis products for waste valorization.

Main Methods:

  • Cultivation of Oedogonium in metal-contaminated ash water amended with flue gas (20% CO₂) at a power station.
  • Continuous monitoring of metal concentrations in treated wastewater.
  • Slow pyrolysis of metal-loaded algal biomass to produce biochar.
  • Assessment of metal leachability from biochar.

Main Results:

  • Continuous macroalgal cultivation significantly reduced concentrations of regulated metals (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn) in the treated ash water.
  • Predictive modeling indicated feasibility of zero metal discharge for the power station.
  • Slow pyrolysis immobilized metals in a recalcitrant biochar with low leachability.
  • Algal biochar showed potential as an ameliorant for low-fertility soils.

Conclusions:

  • Macroalgal bioremediation is a viable, large-scale technology for treating metal-contaminated wastewater in water-limited industries like coal-fired power generation.
  • This approach can achieve significant metal reduction, moving towards zero discharge goals.
  • Valorization of algal biomass into metal-immobilizing biochar offers a sustainable pathway for waste management and soil improvement.