Aplicações da tecnologia de cultivo de microalgas verdes com vistas à biorremediação de efluentes e produção de bioativos

Abstract

Currently, the ideological shift towards more sustainable and ecologically correct lines of processes, products, economy and policies is perceived. For that, frivolous practice of waste generation and indiscriminate use of fossil fuels should be avoid. In order to corroborate this new reality, driven even more by the pandemic scenario, the biotechnology potential of green microalgae has been starring in more and more sectors due to its versatility. With this motivation, this bibliographic review work sought to gather information from several studies regarding the applicability of microalgae. In this regard, we can see the intrinsic metabolic capacity of these microorganisms in the production and absorption of compounds of interest, whether organic substances from different functional groups, bioactives, nutrients or even heavy metals. The plurality of microalgae functions may be a reflection of the various species existing around the globe, which means that there is as much metabolic and adaptive diversity in the case of microalgae. It is makes them viable alternatives in the treatment of effluents, acting in the bioremediation of wastewater by removing nutrients and heavy metals from the medium, alone or in symbiosis. On the other hands, some of the microalgal biomass compounds are used in third-generation biofuel generating processes, or even the microalgae themselves can actively biochemically promote the production of biofuels. Therefore, attention in the factors that govern the efficiency of these biotechnological applications are verified. In addition, the obstacles in the search for economic viability and large-scale projects are also investigated. Finally, the findings obtained by works already developed and bibliographic research for a better glimpse of the context of microalgae.