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Related Concept Videos

Biofuels01:25

Biofuels

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...
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

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 physical or...
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...
Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

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.
Green Algae01:21

Green Algae

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Optimize Flue Gas Settings to Promote Microalgae Growth in Photobioreactors via Computer Simulations
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Published on: October 1, 2013

Optimizing initial biomass to enhance microplastic sequestration via density-driven bio-flocculation in microalgal

Xiaoxue Mei1, Jiawei Wang1, Xueying Zhao1

  • 1College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150090, China.

Bioresource Technology
|May 21, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Microalgal initial biomass significantly impacts resilience to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs). Higher biomass enhances population yield and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, crucial for microplastic remediation.

Keywords:
BioremediationExtracellular polymeric substances (EPS)Initial biomassMicroalgaePolystyrene microplastics

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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

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Microplastic pollution, particularly from polystyrene (PS), poses a significant environmental threat.
  • Microalgae are increasingly explored for bioremediation applications, but their resilience to pollutants like PS-microplastics (PS-MPs) needs further understanding.
  • Initial microalgal biomass is hypothesized to influence their response to environmental stressors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of initial microalgal biomass on the resilience and response of four microalgal species to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs).
  • To determine the optimal initial biomass for balancing microalgal growth and PS-MP remediation efficiency.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying microalgal resilience to PS-MPs.

Main Methods:

  • Four microalgal species (Chlorella sp., Scenedesmus sp., Cyclotella sp., Spirulina sp.) were exposed to 5 mg L⁻¹ PS-MPs across initial biomass gradients (500–1500 mg L⁻¹).
  • Responses evaluated included population yield, specific growth rates, pigment content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production.
  • Multivariate analysis was employed to assess the interplay between biomass, EPS, photosynthetic performance, and oxidative status.

Main Results:

  • PS-MPs induced species- and density-dependent responses, not uniform toxicity.
  • Increased initial biomass enhanced final population yield and EPS production but reduced specific growth rates due to self-shading and competition.
  • Chlorella sp. and Spirulina sp. showed greater resilience, linked to pigment accumulation, antioxidant regulation, and EPS-mediated PS sequestration.
  • An initial biomass of 1000 mg L⁻¹ optimized the balance between growth and remediation efficiency.

Conclusions:

  • Initial microalgal biomass is a critical factor regulating resilience to PS-MPs.
  • Higher biomass supports better microplastic sequestration via EPS but can limit growth.
  • Optimizing initial biomass is key for developing effective microalgae-based systems for microplastic-contaminated wastewater treatment.