Boosting wastewater treatment and CO2 bioremediation with Nile River microalgae: Resilience to simulated smoke and enhanced biomass production

Abstract

This study investigated the potential of Nile River microalgae for treating wastewater under simulated air pollution conditions. We evaluated microalgal growth and nutrient removal efficiency in wastewater with and without microalgal inoculation. Results demonstrated enhanced algal growth rates in all wastewater samples, with maximum chlorophyll (a) concentrations reaching 3093.2 μg/L and 4157.4 μg/L, respectively. This suggests efficient utilization of organic pollutants, with nutrient removal exceeding 90 % efficiency. Notably, Scenedesmus sp. emerged as the most resilient species, achieving the highest biomass production (735.5 mg/L) at a moderate CO2 concentration (16.6 mg/L). Interestingly, optimal CO2 concentrations enhanced the highest growth rate by 0.84 day−1, demonstrating the potential for simultaneous wastewater treatment and CO2 bioremediation. These findings highlight the promise of Nile River microalgae, particularly Scenedesmus sp., for sustainable wastewater treatment even in polluted environments, offering a dual benefit of environmental remediation and bioresource production.