A review on the diverse interactions between microalgae and nanomaterials: Growth variation, photosynthetic performance and toxicity

Zhi Lin Lau, Sze Shin Low, Ejikeme Raphael Ezeigwe, Kit Wayne Chew, Wai Siong Chai, Amit Bhatnagar, Yee Jiun Yap, Pau Loke Show

Research output: Journal PublicationReview articlepeer-review

71 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Vast improvements in nanotechnology have led to the wide usage of nanomaterials (NMs) in daily products. This study reviews the interactions between NMs and microalgae in terms of impacts on growth and photosynthetic efficiency, and their toxicity on microalgae. All types of NMs such as carbon-based NMs (CNMs), metal oxide-based NMs (MONMs) and noble metal-based NMs (NMNMs) improve microalgal growth and photosynthetic efficiency at low concentration, typically ranging between 1 and 15 mg/L depending on the type of NMs, due to hormetic responses by microalgae. Higher concentrations of NMs have been found to reduce photosynthetic efficiency and subsequent growth inhibition of microalgae. MONMs-microalgae and NMNMs-microalgae interactions focus on membrane alteration, whereas carbon-based NMs-microalgae focus more on shading effect. The toxicity of each type of NMs on microalgae is in the order rGO > GO > MG > CNT for carbon-based NMs, ZnO > TiO2 > CuO > Fe2O3 for MONMs and Ag > Au > Pt for NMNMs. Incorporation of NMs in microalgae are seen to have promising future on producing higher microalgae yield with increased economic efficiency.

Original languageEnglish
Article number127048
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume351
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2022

Keywords

  • Growth inhibition
  • Hormetic responses
  • Microalgae
  • Nanomaterials

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Waste Management and Disposal

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