We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Evaluation of Chlorella vulgaris biosorption capacity for phosphate and nitrate removal from wastewater
Summary
Researchers found that the common green microalgae Chlorella vulgaris can effectively remove phosphate and nitrate from wastewater through a natural adsorption process, with optimal removal at neutral pH and 24-hour contact time — offering a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical water treatment.
High wastewater production rates during the past few decades are mostly attributable to anthropogenic activities. The main components leading to the nutrient enrichment of natural water bodies are such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and other minerals. The main focus of this research was to assess the ability of using Chlorella vulgaris algae, a potent and environmentally benign material, to eliminate phosphate and nitrate ions from wastewater. FTIR results showed that the biologically active molecules that facilitate the binding of phosphate and nitrate ions unto the C. vulgaris are C=C and N-H amid. The ideal equilibrium time for adsorption was 24 h with an optimum pH of 7 and the mass ratio of algae and different anions concentration was 80%. Freundlich isotherm model was the best-fitted isotherm. Moreover, the results of the experiment fit more closely with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model than other models. Elovich kinetic model data for both ions showed that the adsorption rate was much higher than the desorption rate. The growing popularity of biosorbents in treating wastewater has led to an improvement in their affordability and availability, and C. vulgaris may now represent an environmentally friendly choice from an environmental, and economic standpoint.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Influence of microplastics on microalgal performance during wastewater polishing
Researchers studied how five common types of microplastics affect the green alga Chlorella vulgaris during wastewater treatment. They found that while microplastics reduced algal metabolism and growth, the organism maintained its ability to effectively remove nutrients from wastewater. The study demonstrates that Chlorella vulgaris is a robust candidate for bioremediation of microplastic-contaminated wastewater, even under pollutant stress.
The Potential of Algae-Based Nutrient Removal in Wastewater Treatment
Chlorella vulgaris microalgae were tested as a wastewater treatment agent and achieved removal rates of up to 98% for ammonia-nitrogen, 96.6% for chemical oxygen demand, and 82% for biochemical oxygen demand in batch reactors. A notable finding is that microplastics added to the culture did not prevent the algae from functioning effectively, suggesting this approach could be compatible with plastic-contaminated wastewater streams.
Utilizing Chlorella vulgaris algae as an eco-friendly coagulant for efficient removal of polyethylene microplastics from aquatic environments
Researchers tested the green algae Chlorella vulgaris as an eco-friendly coagulant for removing polyethylene microplastics from water. Using optimized experimental conditions, they achieved a removal rate of nearly 99% under the best parameters. The study suggests that algae-based coagulation offers a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to chemical methods for cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.
Removal of Antibiotics Using an Algae-Algae Consortium (Chlorella protothecoides and Chlorella vulgaris)
Researchers tested a partnership between two species of Chlorella algae for removing antibiotics from wastewater and found it to be an effective and environmentally friendly treatment approach. The algae consortium successfully removed significant amounts of common antibiotics while also absorbing nutrients from the water. The study highlights algae-based treatment as a promising sustainable alternative to conventional methods for addressing pharmaceutical pollution in water systems.
Potential of the microalgae Chlorella fusca (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) for biomass production and urban wastewater phycoremediation
Researchers tested the microalgae Chlorella fusca as a low-cost tool for cleaning urban wastewater and found it can remove up to 55% of nitrogen and 41% of dissolved carbon while simultaneously producing proteins and lipids that could be used for biofuel — a potential win for both pollution control and renewable energy.