Application of Microalgae for Treating Reverse Osmosis Reject Water: Prospects and Challenges

Although reverse osmosis is an efficient technique for treating brackish and seawater, it suffers from the disadvantage of generating huge quantities of reject water. Microalgae-based treatment of reverse osmosis reject water is attracting wide attention recently. In this regard, the present chapter aims at reviewing: (i) species of marine microalgae employed for ROR treatment, (ii) optimization of cultivation conditions, (iii) type of photobioreactors used for desalination, (iv) biomass productivities and lipid productivities obtained during desalination, (v) biochemical and elemental composition of microalgae cultivated in ROR, and (vi) efficiency of treatment of ROR. Additionally, we describe the perspectives and challenges associated with ROR treatment by microalgae, the scale-up of technology, and the current status of technology at an industrial scale.