Bioremediation of Excess Nutrients in Municipal Wastewater using Immobilized Microalgae Cultures (Chlorella Pyrenoidosa & Scenedesmus Quadricauda)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.2108Keywords:
bioremediation, microalgae, eutrophication, nutrient removalAbstract
Microalgae are a viable way for removing nutrient contaminants such as nitrogen and phosphorus that, when in excess, can lead to eutrophication of bodies of water. While microalgae can consume these contaminants in laboratory settings, industrial implementation of bioremediation in wastewater treatment facilities poses logistical and financial challenges. To address these obstacles, we explored the use of immobilized microalgae strains as primary remediators of ammonium-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen and total phosphorus. Two strains were selected (Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus quadricauda) and immobilized in the form of alginate beads. The additions of iron and the clay mineral clinoptilolite to the algae beads were also evaluated for possible bioremediation enhancements. Our results showed the fastest removal of ammonium-nitrogen (from 6.4 mg/L to < 1 mg/L in 1 day) by clinoptilolite and by Scenedesmus quadricauda. Nitrate-nitrogen concentrations were reduced most significantly (34.5 mg/L to 6 mg/L) by Scenedesmus quadricauda alone and by the co-culture (Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus quadricauda), although the process took 6 days. Phosphorus removal by the different algae combinations (individual strains vs. co-culture) was comparable after 2 days (1000 ppb to 75 ppb). These results confirm that the microalgae are effective remediators of excess nutrients in wastewater even in the form of alginate beads and that clinoptilolite could enhance the removal efficiency.
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