Rapid and Sustainable Conversion of Phenol to Microalgae Biomass

Abstract

Rapid and continuous degradation of toxic organic pollutants and conversion to microalgae biomass are attracting enormous interest for resource recovery and wastewater treatment. Aiming toward this goal, we develop and demonstrate a novel photocatalytic-biological system in which photocatalytic optical hollow fibers coated with the N-doped TiO 2 photocatalyst and a Scenedesmus obliquus biofilm cooperatively convert phenol to microalgae biomass. The photocatalytic optical hollow fibers exhibit high UV−visible photocatalytic activity to rapidly degrade phenol and emit visible light for biofilm growth, lipid synthesis, and O 2 production. O 2 produced as an electron acceptor is transferred to the surface of the photocatalytic optical hollow fibers, limiting electron−hole recombination and generating reactive oxygen species such as • OH and • O 2 − . Upregulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide + hydrogen and adenosine triphosphate and enrichment of Rhodococcus and Pseudomonas in the biofilm enhance the resistance to phenol toxicity, maintain rapid and stable biofilm growth, and increase lipid content. This photocatalyticbiological system rapidly and sustainably converts phenol to microalgae biomass.

Emerging Materials in Photo-bio catalytic systems for Futuristic Wastewater Treatment

“…As a result, the concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD), heavy metals, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), pH, color, salinities, and turbidity vary in textile wastewaters [6]. While considering developed nations, the organic loads from petrochemical industries [7], pharmaceuticals [8] [9], textile industries [10] and other sectors, add up to the list of priority pollutants requiring immediate abatement else leading to several mutagenic and/or carcinogenic causing adverse effects on living beings and the environment [11]. Despite the encouraging and interesting research being carried out on microbes (particularly microalgae) coupled with nanoparticles acting as photocatalysts, the large-scale implementation of such wastewater treatment process still needs further investigation.…”