Utilization of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris for mercury bioremediation from wastewater and biomass production

Increased industrialization led to a large amount of wastewater being generated. Heavy metals (HMs), especially mercury, are one of the toxic and harmful contaminants in wastewater. Therefore, it is essential to develop sustainable ecotechnology that can purify wastewater. Microalgae have recently been employed as an alternative to conventional methods for removing HMs because they are renewable resources designed to treat wastewater and produce useful products. In addition, microalgae have high selectivity in binding metal ions and removing harmful substances. This review mainly focused on removing mercury from wastewater by bioremediation of microalga (Chlorella vulgaris) and utilization of microalgae biomass in several applications. The review is helpful to support sustainable natural resource development for scientists, freshwater management facility managers, wastewater treatment facility operators, and industrial communities.