Microplastics (MPs) pollution has become one of our time's most consequential issue. These micropolymeric particles are ubiquitously distributed across all natural and urban ecosystems. Current filtration systems in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) rely on non-biodegradable fossil-based polymeric filters whose maintenance procedures are environmentally damaging and unsustainable. Following the need to develop sustainable filtration frameworks for MPs water removal, years of R&D lead to the conception of bacterial cellulose (BC) biopolymers. These bacterial-based naturally secreted polymers display unique features for biotechnological applications, such as straightforward production, large surface areas, nanoporous structures, biodegradability, and utilitarian circularity. Diligently, techniques such as flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy were used to evaluate the feasibility and characterise the removal dynamics of highly concentrated MPs-polluted water by BC biopolymers. Results show that BC biopolymers display removal efficiencies of MPs of up to 99%, maintaining high performance for several continuous cycles. The polymer's characterisation showed that MPs were both adsorbed and incorporated in the 3D nanofibrillar network. The use of more economically- and logistics-favourable dried BC biopolymers preserves their physicochemical properties while maintaining high efficiency (93-96%). These polymers exhibited exceptional structural preservation, conserving a high water uptake capacity which drives microparticle retention. In sum, this study provides clear evidence that BC biopolymers are high performing, multifaceted and genuinely sustainable/circular alternatives to synthetic water treatment MPs-removal technologies.

The prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in both urban and aquatic ecosystems is concerning, with wastewater treatment plants being considered one of the major sources of the issue. As the focus on developing sustainable solutions increases, unused remnants from bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes were ground to form BC hydrogels as potential bioflocculants of MPs. The influence of operational parameters such as BC:MPs ratio, hydrogel grinding, immersion and mixing time, temperature, pH, ionic strength, and metal cations on MPs flocculation and dispersion were evaluated. A response surface methodology based on experimental data sets was computed to understand how these parameters influence the flocculation process. Further, both the BC hydrogel and the hetero-aggregation of MPs were characterised by UV-Vis, ATR-FTIR, IGC, water uptake assays, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy. These highlights that the BC hydrogel would be fully effective at hetero-aggregating MPs in naturally-occurring concentrations, thereby not constituting a limiting performance factor for MPs' optimal flocculation and aggregation. Even considering exceptionally high concentrations of MPs (2 g/L) that far exceed naturally-occurring concentrations, the BC hydrogel was shown to have elevated MPs flocculation activity (reaching 88.6%: 1.77 g/L). The computation of bioflocculation activity showed high reliability in predicting flocculation performance, unveiling that the BC:MPs ratio and grinding times were the most critical variables modulating flocculation rates. Also, short exposure times (5 min) were sufficient to drive robust particle aggregation. The microporous nature of the hydrogel revealed by electron microscopy is the likely driver of strong MPs bioflocculant activity, far outperforming dispersive commercial bioflocculants like xanthan gum and alginate. This pilot study provides convincing evidence that even BC remainings can be used to produce highly potent and circular bioflocculators of MPs, with prospective application in the wastewater treatment industry.

Understanding the impact of variables involved in soluble-extracellular polymeric substance (S-EPS) production processes is crucial for reducing production costs and enhancing sustainability. Response surface methodology (RSM) provides essential tools that assist in developing predicted interactions among process variables for both industrial and non-industrial applications. The present study offers a simple and systematic demonstration of RSM capabilities, focusing on maximizing efficiency and minimizing production costs of S-EPS produced by Cyanocohniella rudolphia. RSM was employed to (1) design the production setup; (2) fit the collected data into a second-order polynomial model; (3) statistically evaluate the model’s validity and the significance of the involved variables; and (4) identify and optimize production variables to enhance output and reduce costs. Focused on four key variables, each at three levels, RSM designed 25 distinct S-EPS production conditions, each with three replicates. Statistical analysis identified the most significant variables affecting S-EPS production as the culture medium/wet biomass ratio, production days, and nitrogen concentration. The model’s validation demonstrated a strong correlation between the predicted and experimental values, with S-EPS production ranging from 70.46 to 228.65 mg/L and a maximum variation of 11.6%. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of RSM in optimizing S-EPS production, with the developed model showing a strong correlation between the variables and the response. The RSM model offers a promising approach for the bioprocessing industry, enhancing productivity and efficiency, minimizing costs, and leading to sustainable, cost-effective practices.

Microalgae can play a crucial role in the environment due to their efficient capture of CO₂ and their potential as a solution for a carbon-negative economy. Water quality is critical for the success and profitability of microalgal-based industries, and understanding their response to emergent pollutants, such as microplastics (MPs), is essential. Despite the published studies investigating the impact of MPs on microalgae, knowledge in this area remains limited. Most studies have mainly focused on microalgal growth, metabolite analysis, and photosynthetic activity, with significant discrepancies in what is known about the impact on biomass yield. Recent studies show that the yield of biomass production depends on the levels of water contamination by MPs, making it necessary to reduce the contamination levels in the water. However, present technologies for extracting and purifying water from MPs are limited, and further research and technological advancements are required. One promising solution is the use of bio-based polymer materials, such as bacterial cellulose, which offer biodegradability, cost-effectiveness, and environmentally friendly detoxifying properties. This review summarises the current knowledge on MPs pollution and its impact on the viability and proliferation of microalgae-based industries, highlights the need for further research, and discusses the potential of bio-solutions for MPs removal in microalgae-based industries.

Microplastics (MPs) are a widespread environmental threat, especially to aquatic and urban systems. Water quality is vital for biomass production in microalgal-based industries. Here, industrially relevant microalgae Tetraselmis suecica, Scenedesmus armatus, and Nannochloropsis gaditana were exposed to PS- and PE-MPs (polystyrene and polyethylene, respectively - 10-20 μm) contaminated waters (5 and 10 mg/L). Following industrial empirical and ecotoxicological procedures, the production period was established as four days (exponential growth phase). 27-long day experiments were conducted to determine the chronic effects of MPs contamination in microalgal biomass yields. MPs induced different responses in cell density: T. suecica decreased (up to 11 %); S. armatus showed no changes; and N. gaditana increased (up to 6 %). However, all three microalgae exhibited significant decreases in biomass production (up to 24, 48, and 52 %, respectively). S. armatus exposed to PS-MPs and N. gaditana exposed to PE-MPs were the most impacted regarding biomass production. The decrease in biomass yield was due to the reduction in single-cell weight (up to 14, 47, and 43 %), and/or the production of smaller-sized cells (T. suecica). In response to chronic exposure, microalgae showed signs of cell density adaptation. Despite cell density normalizing, biomass production was still reduced compared to biomass production in clean water. Computational modelling highlighted that MPs exposure had a concentration-dependent negative impact on microalgae biomass. The models allow the evaluation of the systematic risks that MPs impose in microalgal-based industries and stimulate actions towards implementing systems to contain/eliminate MPs contamination in the waters used in microalgae production.

Bound extracellular polymeric substances (B-EPS) are extracellular polysaccharides tightly attached to cyanobacterial and microalgal cell surfaces, representing a high-value class of biopolymers with industrial potential. Selective extraction is technically challenging due to strong adhesion to the cell wall and potential co-extraction of soluble EPS. Conventional methods can be chemically aggressive and may involve high energy and/or solvent inputs, making solvent-free extraction routes desirable. In this work, four hydrothermal extraction techniques (reflux, autoclave, ultrasonic bath, and microwave) were evaluated for their ability to recover B-EPS from the marine cyanobacterium Chroococcus submarinus (BEA 1200B), followed by a harmonised ultrafiltration step. Each method was assessed for extraction efficiency and its impact on bulk descriptors (inorganic carry-over, ATR-FTIR, zeta potential, and thermal profiles) and morphology. Among the methods tested, autoclave extraction demonstrated the highest performance, yielding up to 2.5 times more B-EPS than the other methods and showing reduced inorganic carry-over after purification. Across all methods, the purified B-EPS fractions exhibited broadly comparable bulk profiles under the applied analytics. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) applied to the autoclave system identified temperature and extraction time as key variables; optimal conditions (biomass-to-solvent ratio 1 : 20 (w/v), 130 °C, 16 min) enabled >90% recovery. Coupling autoclave extraction with solvent-free ultrafiltration avoids solvent precipitation and the use of hazardous reagents, enabling desalting and removal of low-molecular-weight components. Using a photosynthetic marine strain supports seawater cultivation and biogenic CO₂ uptake, aligning the workflow with carbon-mitigation goals.