Abstract—Innovation and sustainability are being explored due to the growing demand for efficient wastewater treatment techniques worldwide. Modern wastewater treatment methods often face limitations in efficiency and complete pollutant removal. To overcome the shortcomings of modern technology, this research explores the combined potential of fungi and algae in wastewater treatment. The research employed a comprehensive methodology, utilizing a carefully selected combination of fungi and algae in a controlled experimental setup. Four genera of organisms, two species of fungi (Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trichoderma asperallum), and two species of algae (Spirogyra maxima, Gloeocapsa rupicoig) are used to react. Examinations are done on water treated with algae and fungi since there are eight treatments applied as opposed to just water in the control treatment. Measured are the bicarbonate ions, sulfates, copper, and iron concentrations. The findings illustrate the symbiotic link between fungi and algae and show a notable improvement in wastewater treatment efficiency. When compared to separate treatments, the synergistic pair showed significant pollution reduction. This study provides important insights into a new, environmentally friendly approach to wastewater treatment, revealing the potential to simultaneously utilize the unique abilities of fungi and algae in tandem.

Keywords—wastewater treatment, Fungi, Algae, symbiotic relationship, pollutant removal

Cite: Likhon C. Roy, Yassine Ezaier, Ahmed Hader, Khalid Ansari, Abderrahim Maftouh, Hesam Kamyab, Hussameldin Ibrahim, and Mohammad Yusuf, "Fungi and Algae: A Synergistic Duo for Wastewater Treatment," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 65-72, 2025.

Copyright © 2025 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).