Phycoremediation: Use of Algae to Sequester Heavy Metals

Industrialization, natural processes, and urbanization have potentially accelerated the pace level of heavy metals (HMs) in soil underground water. These HMs may be accumulated plants animals when they take up such contaminated water, then make their way into human food chains. Several remediation technologies been employed to HMs. Diverse conventional means as ion exchange, electrolytic technologies, chemical extraction past, but majority these techniques are not economical for extensive projects need stringent control continuous monitoring. also low efficiency effective removal In this context, algae offer an eco-friendly sustainable alternative from polluted The accumulation by macro microalgae is advantageous phycoremediation compared other approaches that environmentally friendly. So, there urgent necessity refine chances algae, employing genetic engineering create transgenic species over-expressing metallothioneins phytochelatins, which form complexes with store them vacuoles maximum use phytoaccumulation while removing hazardous aquatic habitats. This review outlines major sources HMs, adverse effects on humans, potential phytoremediation (called phycoremediation), uptake mechanism