An Experimental Investigation for Improving the Efficiency of the Microalgae for Wastewater Treatment by Using Photobioreactor

Abstract

Recent investigations indicated that continuous use of fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural fields not only deteriorated soil health but also caused a deleterious effect on surface and groundwater bodies. Treating such wastewater using microalgae has shown higher nutrient removal and biomass efficiency. Moreover, microalgae are proven to be miniature factories that augment the huge potential of biofuel. In this study, phycoremediation was utilized to assess the impact of nutrient degradation on synthetic agrochemical wastewater (SAWW) by employing three different microalgal strains: Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus, and Desmococcus sp. The experiments were conducted in bubble column photobioreactors (BC-PBRs). The results revealed that C. vulgaris exhibited higher biomass productivity compared to the other two strains. The removal rate of NH4-N was 96% for C. vulgaris, while S. obliquus and Desmococcus sp. showed removal rates of 98% and 94%, respectively. Regarding PO4-P removal, C. vulgaris, S. obliquus, and Desmococcus sp. exhibited removal rates of 95%, 97%, and 90%, respectively. C. vulgaris demonstrated higher removal rates of COD and BOD with values of 78% and 65%, respectively, followed by Desmococcus sp. and S. obliquus newline