Summary
This review synthesises current knowledge on the application of microalgae and cyanobacteria for pesticide biodegradation and environmental remediation. The authors emphasise that these photoautotrophic microorganisms can simultaneously reduce environmental toxicity, improve soil properties, and generate value-added biomass, whilst highlighting substantial technical and engineering challenges that must be addressed to enable large-scale deployment. The review concludes that interdisciplinary collaboration in strain selection, metabolic engineering, and process intensification is essential to realise the ecological and economic potential of these organisms.
Regional applicability
The findings are globally applicable to bioremediation challenges, though implementation in UK agricultural and environmental contexts would require localisation of strain selection and bioreactor design to temperate climate conditions. UK pesticide residue regulations and wastewater treatment standards would shape practical deployment pathways.
Key measures
Pesticide degradation capacity; nutrient recycling; organic pollutant breakdown; soil enrichment; biomass yield; bioreactor efficiency; strain selection criteria; process intensification parameters
Outcomes reported
This narrative review examines the roles of microalgae and cyanobacteria in pesticide biodegradation, their capacity to enrich soil properties and support beneficial microbiota, and their potential for cost-effective bioremediation in wastewater treatment systems. The review identifies key implementation challenges including growth optimisation, contamination prevention, harvest efficiency, and bioreactor design.
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