Textile-based cyanobacteria biocomposites for potential environmental remediation applications

Abstract Microalgae and cyanobacteria are effective platforms for environmental remediation (phycoremediation), particularly of air water. There is limited scope to deploy suspension cultures due space, cost maintenance challenges—driving an imperative towards biofilm-based treatment systems; however, these systems ill-equipped rapid mobile deployment. In this study we explored the main technical challenges developing cheap, accessible low-maintenance engineered biofilm (biocomposites) comprising ( Synechococcus elongatus ) immobilised a range textiles n = 4) by natural or synthetic latex binders 16), chitosan shellac. Biocomposite viability (measured as net CO 2 uptake) was assessed over 20 days in semi-batch trials. No required during period humidity within reactor sufficient support metabolism. Two commercial (AURO 320 321) supported strong growth biocomposite, outperforming controls. variation performance, with 80/20 polyester-cotton blend performing most consistently. formulation varied terms binder solids content cell loading rate, 5% 2.5% combination. We demonstrate feasibility fabricating functional textile-based biocomposites discuss context decentralised wastewater services.