Strategies for Removal of Emerging Compounds of Concern Through Algal Niche Adaptation

The modern world currently and in the future faces increasing challenges related to the many problems of environmental pollution of air, water, and soil, climate change, chemical exposures, etc., and their negative impact on animal, plant, and human health. The attenuation of this pollution and its effect requires more and more innovative, efficient, and very consistent financial resources. New biotechnical applications have been the pillar of this emerging pollution remediation to guarantee a healthy and friendly living environment for all living organisms. Bioremediation has received considerable attention as an effective, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method of detoxifying air, water, contaminated soil, and natural sites. Among the different organisms of the globe, such as algae, fungi, bacteria, and some plant species used for bioremediation, bioremediation based on microalgae are a more sustainable and environmental alternative for different mitigations of residues and their valorization through the production of biofuels and useful compounds like enzymes. It is a renewable energy source because of its excellent properties for the elimination of pollutants. The various residues generated owing to different human activities have many so-called emerging compounds, of toxic quality and nature that are harmful to humans and their environment. These compounds of mineral, biological, organic, radioactive nature, etc., causing pollution and biological, physical, or chemical alteration, occur at low concentrations in water, air, or soil, in the order of micrograms or nanograms per liter. They mainly have a wide range of pharmaceutical residues, hormones, pesticides, cosmetics, various industrial and agricultural wastes, etc., and can exert a toxic or ecotoxic action on all or part of the organisms or the ecosystem. Also, they are hard to eliminate and require new techniques and increased financial means to fight them. Microalgae as a bioremediation operator is an interesting technique and process from the viewpoint of the treatment of these micro-pollutants and the costs of implementation. This chapter aims to present the techniques of bioremediation operated by microalgae and their advantages for treating emerging micro-pollutants to provide new efficient and inexpensive alternative solutions for large-scale pollution problems.