Microalgae-Based Solutions for Sustainable Swine Wastewater Management: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions

Resumen

Swine wastewater poses significant environmental challenges, needing comprehensive management strategies. In addressing these challenges, integrated wastewater treatment systems utilizing microalgae emerge as promising solutions. These systems integrate biological, chemical, and physical processes to efficiently remove pollutants while producing valuable biomass. Various cultivation methods, such as raceway ponds and photobioreactors, offer versatile approaches for treating swine wastewater. Moreover, advanced technologies can complement microalgal-based processes, further enhancing treatment efficiencies. Hybrid systems, which combine multiple technologies, play an important role in optimizing resource utilization and enhancing treatment performance. By leveraging these integrated approaches, it becomes possible to maximize the reuse potential of treated wastewater post-treatment. Evaluating the effectiveness and economic feasibility of microalgae-based treatment processes involves quantifying pollutant removal efficiency, biomass productivity, and resource utilization rates. Despite the promising potential, several challenges remain, including wastewater variability, high initial capital costs, and scalability issues, which hinder widespread adoption. To overcome these challenges, future research activities should concentrate on enhancing our understanding of microalgal physiology, exploring innovative cultivation strategies, and development interdisciplinary collaborations to advance swine wastewater management practices. Through concentrated efforts and innovative solutions, microalgae-based treatment systems can play a fundamental role in sustainable swine wastewater management, contributing to both environmental conservation and resource optimization.