Back to Search Start Over

Unraveling the Potential of Microbial Flocculants: Preparation, Performance, and Applications in Wastewater Treatment

Authors :
Yang Yang
Cancan Jiang
Xu Wang
Lijing Fan
Yawen Xie
Danhua Wang
Tiancheng Yang
Jiang Peng
Xinyuan Zhang
Xuliang Zhuang
Source :
Water, Vol 16, Iss 14, p 1995 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Microbial flocculants (MBFs), a class of eco-friendly and biodegradable biopolymers produced by various microorganisms, have gained increasing attention as promising alternatives to conventional chemical flocculants in wastewater treatment and pollutant removal. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of MBF research, encompassing their diverse sources (bacteria, fungi, and algae), major categories (polysaccharides, proteins, and glycoproteins), production processes, and flocculation performance and mechanisms. The wide-ranging applications of MBFs in removing suspended solids, heavy metals, dyes, and other pollutants from industrial and municipal wastewater are critically examined, highlighting their superior efficiency, selectivity, and environmental compatibility compared to traditional flocculants. Nonetheless, bioflocculants face significant challenges including high substrate costs, low production yields, and intricate purification methodologies, factors that impede their industrial scalability. Moreover, the risk of microbial contamination and the attendant health implications associated with the use of microbial flocculants (MBFs) necessitate thorough evaluation. To address the challenges of high production costs and variable product quality, strategies such as waste valorization, strain improvement, process optimization, and biosafety evaluation are discussed. Moreover, the development of multifunctional MBF-based flocculants and their synergistic use with other treatment technologies are identified as emerging trends for enhanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Future research directions are outlined, emphasizing the need for in-depth mechanistic studies, advanced characterization techniques, pilot-scale demonstrations to accelerate the industrial adoption of MBF, and moreover, integration with novel wastewater treatment processes, such as partial nitrification and the anammox process. This review is intended to inspire and guide further research and development efforts aimed at unlocking the full potential of MBFs as sustainable, high-performance, and cost-effective bioflocculants for addressing the escalating challenges in wastewater management and environmental conservation.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20734441
Volume :
16
Issue :
14
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Water
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.70c0f3469074b858e9e1fde89a5f361
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/w16141995