Mixotrophic microalgae can remove nutrients from wastewater effectively. By combining autotrophy and heterotrophy, these microalgae can remove nitrogen at a faster rate compared to using just autotrophic or heterotrophic methods. The study found that a balanced mix of autotrophy and heterotrophy resulted in the highest nitrogen removal rate. This method can achieve similar nitrogen removal rates as bacteria, but with the added benefit of a negative carbon budget, making it a sustainable option for wastewater treatment and resource recycling.