The escalating global wastewater crisis—driven by urbanization, industrial expansion, and climate change—has severely compromised freshwater ecosystems. Conventional treatment methods are costly and resource-intensive, whereas bioremediation offers a sustainable alternative. Microalgae-based bioremediation has emerged as a transformative solution that integrates pollutant removal with resource recovery. This review synthesizes recent advances in microalgae biotechnology for remediating nutrients, heavy metals, and organic pollutants through biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biotransformation. Beyond remediation, microalgae biomass serves as a feedstock for biofuels, bioplastics, and biofertilizers, aligning with circular economy principles. Technological innovations such as advanced photobioreactors, AI-enabled monitoring, and integration with industrial systems are explored. Despite challenges in economic viability and regulatory frameworks, microalgae-based systems offer a promising pathway toward achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, 12, 13, and 14.
Aaglave et al. (Fri,) studied this question.