Table 3 Techno-economic impact and challenges of applying BMC in textile effluent treatment

Techno-economic impact

Improved treatment efficiency

Enhance inorganic carbon fixation and increase microalgae biomass

[70]

Cost-effectiveness

Reduce the cost of treatment as well as growth nutrient because microalgae biomass was used as substrate by bacteria

[129]

Renewable energy production

Energy-rich biomass is generated during utilization of N, P, and other inorganic nutrients during nitrification and photosynthesis

[130]

Resources recycling

Convert nutrients from the effluent into biomass, e.g., conversion of phosphorous found in the textile effluent into polyphosphate

[131]

Reduced discharge of pollutants

Convert toxic metals into less toxic ones before discharge

[132]

Greenhouse gas emissions

Microalgae consume high levels of CO₂ and convert it into chemical energy with the help of sunlight

[45]

Challenges

Inhibition of microalgal growth

Competition for nutrients

Production of antifungal metabolites by bacteria

[133]

Inhibition of bacterial partner

Production of antibacterial metabolites by algae

[134]

Non-availability of information

Lack of information regarding co-cultivation and scale − up strategies

[135]