Microalgae-bacteria consortia for the treatment of fat, oil, and grease wastewater: Recent progress, interaction mechanisms, and application prospects

Fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) in wastewater pose a significant environmental challenge due to their prevalence in wastewater. Hence, effective treatment methods are required for FOG-based wastewater. Biological treatment methods are among the best options because of their numerous advantages over other approaches such as more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. However, treating FOG-based wastewater with bacteria alone is often inefficient, leading to increased interest in microalgae-bacteria consortium. These consortia offer enhanced microbial activity and environmental adaptability through synergistic interactions. Value-added bioproducts can further improve economic sustainability. Therefore, this review summarizes the different technologies used for FOG-based wastewater treatment and comprehensively examines the microalgae-bacteria consortium. Moreover, it highlights recent advancements in the role of bacteria in facilitating microalgae growth, their interactions, resource recovery, and bioeconomy applications. This review aims to serve as a guide for employing microalgae-bacteria consortia in treating FOG-based wastewater and promoting their application in greenhouse gas reduction and pollution remediation.