Chlorella vulgaris in biodesalination: a sustainable future from seawater to freshwater

Abstract

Demand for freshwater is increasing rapid due to population growth and climate change. A potential solution to this problem is the use of biodesalination, which involves the removal of salt from seawater and brackish water using biological agents. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using Chlorella vulgaris, a green microalga, to remove salt from seawater to produce fresh water. The effects of salinity, light intensity, and nutrient concentration on the growth and salt removal efficiency of C.vulgaris were examined. Our results showed that C. vulgaris was able to grow and remove salt from seawater under salinities of approximately 24ppt and nutrient concentrations of 50%. The highest salt removal efficiency was achieved at a desalination setup involving C. vulgaris and seawater concentration of 1:5 ratio. We also evaluated the economic feasibility of biodesalination using C. vulgaris by estimating the production costs and comparing them with those of conventional desalination technologies. Our results showed that biodesalination using C.vulgaris is potentially a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional desalination technologies. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the potential of C. vulgaris for the biodesalination of seawater, which could contribute to meeting the growing demand for fresh water.