Phytoremediation of heavy metals by microalgae: a mini review

There are five heavy metals, namely arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), which are carcinogenic and pose health risks, even in trace amounts. Due to their several benefits, microalgae are increasingly being used in phytoremediation to remove heavy metals, due to their abundant availability, low cost, and excellent metal removal efficiency. Using microalgae as soil remediation and biosorption agents for these toxic heavy metals, this review paper aims to report recent advances and mechanisms. The use of non-living biomass as biosorbents and the tolerance and response of different microalgae strains to heavy metals are discussed along with their bioaccumulation capability. Additionally, microalgae are explored as a bioremediation method for heavy metals. Overall, this review provides useful insights that can be applied to the development of efficient and commercially viable technology for heavy metal bioremediation using microalgae.