Trends in microalgal-based systems as a promising concept for emerging contaminants and mineral salt recovery from municipal wastewater.

In the context of climate change leading to water scarcity for many people in the world, the treatment of municipal wastewater becomes a necessity. However, the reuse of this water requires secondary and tertiary treatment processes to reduce or eliminate a load of dissolved organic matter and various emerging contaminants. Microalgae have shown hitherto high potential applications of wastewater bioremediation thanks to their ecological plasticity and ability to remediate several pollutants and exhaust gases from industrial processes.

Elaboration and Characterization of a New Heavy Metal Sensor Functionalized by Extracellular Polymeric Substances Isolated from a Tunisian Thermophilic Microalga Strain sp.

The present study aimed to develop and characterize new heavy metal sensors functionalized by extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) isolated from a Tunisian thermophilic microalga strain sp. The elaborated sensor showed a highly homogeneous character and revealed a microstructural lamellar arrangement, high crystalline nature, and several functional groups. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and acoustic wave sensing were used as sensing techniques to explore the ability of microalgae-EPS-functionalized sensors to detect cadmium and mercury as heavy metals.

A Novel Impedimetric Sensor Based on Cyanobacterial Extracellular Polymeric Substances for Microplastics Detection.

Unlabelled: Cyanobacterial extracellular polymeric substances "EPS" have attracted intensive concern in biomedicine and food. Nevertheless, the use of those polymers as a sensor coating material has not yet been investigated mainly for microplastic detection. This study focuses on the application of EPS as a sensitive membrane deposited on a gold electrode and investigated with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to detect four types of microplastics with a size range of 0.

Extracellular Polymeric Substances Produced by the Thermophilic Cyanobacterium : Characterization and Assessment of Their Antioxidant and Metal-Chelating Activities.

Cyanobacteria, particularly thermophilic strains, represent an important potential source of EPSs, harboring structural complexity that predicts diverse and specific bioactive potential. The thermophilic cyanobacteria isolated from a natural hot source in Ain Echfa (Tunisia), was cultivated in a cylindrical reactor, and the production of biomass and EPSs was investigated. Results revealed that the strain is amongst the most efficient EPSs producers (0.

Bisphenol A removal by the Chlorophyta sp.: optimization and kinetic study.

The Chlorophyta sp. isolated from a Tunisian household sewage pond appears promising for effective removal of Bisphenol A (BPA). Efficient and cost-effective technology for contaminants remediation relies on a tradeoff between several parameters such as removal efficiency, microorganism growth, and its tolerance to contaminant toxicity.

Biodegradation of diclofenac by two green microalgae: Picocystis sp. and Graesiella sp.

The aim of the present study was to provide an integrated view of algal removal of diclofenac (DCF). Two isolated microalgal strains Picocystis sp. and Graesiella sp.

Effect of Bisphenol A on the extremophilic microalgal strain Picocystis sp. (Chlorophyta) and its high BPA removal ability.

Bisphenol A (BPA) effects and removal by an alkaliphilic chlorophyta, Picocystis, were assessed. BPA at low concentrations (0-25 mg L) did not inhibit the Picocystis growth and photosynthesis during 5 days of exposure. At higher BPA concentrations (50 and 75 mg L), the growth inhibition did not exceed 43%.

Enhancement of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production in Spirulina (Arthrospira sp.) by two-step cultivation process and partial characterization of their polysaccharidic moiety.

The interactive effects of light intensity and NaCl concentration were investigated for Spirulina two-step cultivation process using Full Factorial Design. In the experiment interval, light intensity had no effect while the NaCl concentration had significant effect on the enhancement of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production. Interestingly, results revealed a significant negative interaction between light and NaCl concentration indicating that high NaCl concentration (40gL) and low light intensity (10μmol photons ms) enhanced the EPS production.

The effects of temperature and light intensity on growth, reproduction and EPS synthesis of a thermophilic strain related to the genus Graesiella.

Tunisian microalgae are diverse and rarely been studied. This study reports a first investigation of thermophile Chlorophyta isolated from mats community colonizing the geothermal springs in the north of Tunisia at water temperature 60 °C. In the study, the combined effect of temperature and light intensity was investigated on the cell growth, the mother and daughter cells abundance and the extracellular polymeric substances synthesis in batch culture of the isolated species.

Ultra-sensitive conductometric detection of pesticides based on inhibition of esterase activity in Arthrospira platensis.

Enzymatic conductometric biosensor, using immobilized Arthrospira platensis cells on gold interdigitated electrodes, for the detection of pesticides in water, was elaborated. Cholinesterase activity (AChE) was inhibited by pesticides and a variation of the local conductivity was measured after addition of the substrate acetylthiocholine chloride (AChCl). The Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) was evaluated to be 1.

Ultra-sensitive conductometric detection of heavy metals based on inhibition of alkaline phosphatase activity from Arthrospira platensis.

This study is based on the conductometric measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) from the cyanobacterium, Arthrospira platensis, called Spirulina. Cyanobacterium cells were directly immobilized, by physical adsorption, on the ceramic part of gold interdigitated transducers. This activity was inhibited in the presence of heavy metals and a variation of the local conductivity was measured after addition of the substrate.

Evaluation of Arthrospira platensis extracellular polymeric substances production in photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic conditions.

The kinetic study of Arthrospira platensis extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production under different trophic modes-photoautotrophy (100 μmol photons m(-2) s(-1)), heterotrophy (1.5 g/L glucose), and mixotrophy (100 μmol photons m(-2) s(-1) and 1.5 g/L glucose)-was investigated.