Research Progress on Algal-Bacterial Symbiotic Systems for the Treatment of Livestock Wastewater
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/hkqgg658Keywords:
Algal-bacterial symbiosis, livestock wastewater, nitrogen and phosphorus recovery, heavy metals, emerging contaminantsAbstract
Livestock wastewater is characterized by high organic loading, elevated concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus, high suspended solids, and the coexistence of antibiotics, heavy metals, antibiotic resistance genes, and other emerging contaminants. Improper treatment may lead to eutrophication, ecological toxicity, and the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments. Algal-bacterial symbiotic systems couple organic matter degradation, nitrogen and phosphorus transformation, pollutant adsorption and immobilization, and biomass valorization through the synergistic interaction between microalgal photosynthesis and bacterial heterotrophic metabolism, providing a promising pathway for low-carbon treatment and nutrient recovery from livestock wastewater. This review systematically summarizes the major pollution characteristics of livestock wastewater and the applicability of algal-bacterial systems, and discusses the key mechanisms involved in algal-bacterial symbiosis, including oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange, nutritional complementarity, extracellular polymeric substance-mediated floc formation, and nitrogen transformation driven by aerobic-anoxic microzones. Furthermore, recent progress in the removal of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, microplastics, and other emerging contaminants by algal-bacterial systems is reviewed. The treatment performance of algal-bacterial systems is mainly influenced by algal species and bacterial community composition, algal-bacterial inoculation ratio, light conditions, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, wastewater pretreatment, and pollutant loading. Future studies should focus on long-term operation under real livestock wastewater conditions, regulation of algal-bacterial communities, clarification of pollutant migration and transformation among the aqueous phase, biomass, and sediments, and the establishment of safe biomass valorization and comprehensive environmental benefit assessment frameworks. These efforts will promote the transition of livestock wastewater treatment from pollution reduction toward resource recycling.
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