The cell wall of green microalgae and its role in heavy metal removal

Heavy metals in industrial wastewaters are posing a serious threat to the environment and human health. Microalgae increasingly being seen as potential solutions this problem they can remove pollutants through biosorption. This process offers certain advantages over other more traditional metal removal techniques it is simple, inexpensive, eco-friendly, be performed wide range of experimental conditions. Biosorption possible due unique complex structure microalgal cell wall. The variety functional groups on surface wall (such carboxyl or amino groups) act binding sites for heavy metals, thus removing them from environment. review focuses composition most commonly used microalgae shows role their biosorption process. also aims report models predict velocity capacities.