Evaluation of microalgae for the bioremediation of emerging contaminants in association with tertiary wastewater treatment

Emerging contaminants are organic or inorganic compounds that are being detected in several environments and may indicate risks to the environment and human beings. This wide variety of compounds includes pharmaceuticals and industrial raw materials. Their presence in water bodies, along with residual nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), can hinder the water treatment for human consumption. An important pathway for some emerging contaminants is the sewage treatment plants (STPs), where, in the secondary effluent treatments, these contaminants and nutrients may not be completely removed. In this context, the tertiary wastewater treatment with microalgae could contribute to the simultaneous removal of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), coliforms, and emerging contaminants. In addition, this process produces microalgae biomass with potential application for biofuel production, for example. Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the use of microalgae in the removal of emerging contaminants (sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, 17-estradiol and bisphenol A), as well as nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and coliforms in effluents resulting from secondary treatment in wastewater treatment plants. Moreover, the genome of the microalgae strains will be sequenced and, then, with the use of bioinformatic tools, enzymes and/or metabolic pathways potentially related to the biodegradation of emerging contaminants will be identified and characterized. This project is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), more specifically with goals 6 (clean water and sanitation), 7 (affordable and clean energy), 13 (climate action), and 14 (life below water).