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 bio-products 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.