Resource recovery from filamentous algae

Algae are virtually ubiquitous, being capable of growing in a vast array of different environments; furthermore, their metabolic versatility and capacity to sequester nutrients and toxicants has stimulated interest in their bioremediation potential. In addition to their use in industrial and domestic wastewater treatment, this has included their use for aquaculture, as well as for bioenergy production. Filamentous microalgae, in particular, are an excellent platform for bioremediation since centrifugation or other expensive harvesting approaches are avoided and the biomass produced can be utilized for bioenergy production. Cladophora is a cosmopolitan green filamentous alga commonly found in rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal locations. It has previously been described as an ecological engineer supporting large diverse populations of both microalgae and bacteria that in-turn influence carbon cycling and produce large quantities of cellulose and hydrocarbons. The cell walls of Cladophora have ion exchange properties and can bind metals such as lead, copper and zinc and this capacity to remove heavy metals from wastewater has stimulated interest in their potential use for bioremediation. However, most studies either assessed metal sorption for algae collected from the natural environment, i.e. without detailed knowledge of the biomass history and water quality they were exposed to or with dried algal biomass exposed to heavy metals. If macroalgae wastewater bioremediation is to become a reality, the macroalgae will be exposed to both nutrients and heavy metals at the same time. However studies combining nutrient and metal uptake by living algae in a controlled environment, as well as biomass characterisation for bioenergy conversion are scarce, which this project proposes to do. Please see further details here - https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/projects/resource-recovery-filamentous-algae.

Eligibility
• a First Class undergraduate degree (or equivalent).
• the University’s English language requirements - https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/international/english/postgraduate