Contaminants of Emerging Concern Treatment by Microalgae: The Status and Future of Phycoremediation
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Authors
Fyfe, Matthew
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Microalgae , Cytochrome p450 , Wastewater , Emerging contaminant
Alternative Title
Abstract
Chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) including pharmaceutical and personal care products are being discharged into aquatic environments at rates causing downstream ecological damage. The removal of these CECs by traditional wastewater treatment plants is insufficient given these facilities were mainly designed prior to the advent of analytical capacities that detect these contaminants at their microtitre concentrations. As sustainable alternatives to wastewater treatment are being considered and developed, these novel technologies must address the traditional demands of wastewater treatment as well as the new challenges posed by CECs. Research has highlighted microalgae as an ideal class of organisms to meet the new challenges in wastewater remediation. Their light-driven metabolism of the primary constituents of wastewater, namely dissolved organic, nitrogenous, and phosphorous material, is well-documented, as is their potential re-use as biofuels, nutraceuticals, or as fertilizers. The opportunities to treat CECs using microalgae is a new research field spanning the past decade, and literature-reported conclusions about their potential is promising.
This thesis summarizes and expands on the current understanding of microalgal-mediated CEC treatment. CECs considered in this text include those from the following classes: antibiotics, antifungal/antimicrobial agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants & antidepressants, artificial sweeteners, beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents, lipid regulating drugs, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, X-ray contrast media, UV filters, stimulants, anti-itching drugs, insect repellents, and plasticizers. The first section presents a meta-analysis of the reported treatment of CECs by eukaryotic and prokaryotic microalgae. This analysis highlights the phylogenetic trends in CEC treatment as well as the chemical and biological effects that drive the primary mechanisms of CEC removal. The second section of this thesis proposes a new avenue of microalgae-mediated CEC treatment through genetic modification. In the form of a review article, this section outlines the potential to heterologously express cytochrome P450 enzymes, primarily responsible for human drug metabolism, to amplify the capacity for microalgae to treat CECs. Considerations regarding enzyme selection, microalgal expression, and potential hindrances to this technology are discussed, serving as a theoretical basis for future experimental validation. Finally, the third section encompasses the preliminary research conducted in the Beaty Water Research Centre. Experiments investigating the capacity to improve CEC treatment using different biological (natural and synthetic) interventions are described and initial results are discussed. The document broadly addresses the past and potential future of microalgal CEC treatment and may serve as a guiding document for future researchers.
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ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
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Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.