We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The Potential of Algae-Based Nutrient Removal in Wastewater Treatment
Summary
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.
Surface water quality has deteriorated in recent years due to the emerging pollutants from urbanization. In line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), adequate treatment is crucial to enhance the effluent discharges to the water bodies. Therefore, the potential of microalgae as phytoremediation, especially Chlorella vulgaris , in revolutionizing municipal wastewater treatment can be a substitute for the conventional method. Thus, this study aims to determine the percentage of pollutants in wastewater removed via microalgae. Effluent samples were taken from the wastewater treatment plant of Universiti Teknologi MARA, Campus Dengkil, Selangor. The experiment was conducted in an aerated batch reactor with LED light to boost the microalgae growth. Microplastic has been inserted in the batch culture of microalgae to estimate the biodegradation process further. From the results observation, the percentage removal for the ammonia-nitrogen is approximately 98%, with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) at the highest rate of 82%. Later, the reduction percentage of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 96.6%. After the treatment, separately, nitrate-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen removal capacity were obtained as 99% and 99.7%. Lastly, for the phosphorus, the removal percentage was 98.48%. Consequently, this research can better understand the environmental and operational factors which can maximize the formation of algal biofilms and enhance the effectiveness of wastewater treatment. It also underscores the need for further research in optimizing the concentrations and combinations of these additives for more efficient wastewater treatment.
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.
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.
Impact of Natural Microorganisms on the Removal of COD and the Cells Activity of the Chlorella sp. in Wastewater
This is not a microplastics study; it examines how adding natural microorganisms to a Chlorella algae system maintains algal cell activity and improves chemical oxygen demand removal in wastewater treatment.
Removal of microplastics by algal biomass from aqueous solutions: performance, optimization, and modeling
Researchers found that algae (Chlorella vulgaris) can remove up to 73% of polystyrene microplastics from water under optimized conditions. Using algae as a natural, eco-friendly alternative to chemical treatments offers a sustainable approach to cleaning up microplastic pollution in water systems without introducing additional harmful substances.
Efficiency of Microalgae Employment in Nutrient Removal (Nitrogen and Phosphorous) from Municipal Wastewater
This review examines how microalgae (tiny aquatic plants) can be used to remove nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants from municipal wastewater. While not directly about microplastics, this research is relevant because effective wastewater treatment is one way to reduce the amount of microplastics that reach waterways and eventually the food chain.