Table 5.
Mechanisms of removal for pharmaceutical compounds (PCs) by microalgae.
| Microalgae | PCs | Mechanism | Removal (%) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desmodesmus subspicatus | 17α-ethinylestradiol | Adsorption & biodegradation | 68 | [158] |
| Chlorella pyrenoidosa | Norgestrel | Biodegradation | 60 | [159] |
| Chlamydomonas reinhardtii | β-estradiol | Adsorption & biodegradation | 100 | [156] |
| Chlorella vulgaris | Metronidazole | Adsorption | 100 | [160] |
| Chlorella sp. | Florfenicol | Bioaccumulation, biodegradation & adsorption | 97 | [161] |
| Scenedesmus obliquus | Enrofloxacin | Bioaccumulation, bioadsorption, and/or biodegradation | 23 | [101] |
| Chlamydomonas mexicana | Enrofloxacin | Bioaccumulation, bioadsorption, and/or biodegradation | 25 | [101] |