Effect of Waste Discharges on Nutrients Content and Growth of Chlorella sp. from Shatt Al-Arab River

Abstract

The effect of the industrial wastes, discharged by the ferti- lizer and paper plants, on the nutrient contents and other physico- chemical conditions of Shatt Al-Arab River waters has been presented. The effect of these waters on the growth of Chlorella sp. has been studied. Appreciable variations in the nutrient contents and other physical and chemical factors were noted at different stations and times. Water temperature showed a seasonal change of 10oC ranging from 11 to 21oC. The data on chlorosity indicate that the study area was slightly influenced by the tidal currents and hence of the Arab Gulf salinity. The water of Shatt Al-Arab River tends to be alkaline. The values ranged from 7.2 as a normal value to 9.1 near the waste effluent of the fertilizer plant where the amount of NH 4 + reached its maximum values. Similarly, nitrite and nitrate showed high values in the same area. Sulfate contents, on the other hand, were found to be high near the effluent of paper plant. All these variations have been discussed clearly. The present work shows a correlation between the different industrial wastes, discharged in Shatt Al-Arab River and the amount of nutrients in its waters. The effect of Shatt Al-Arab River waters on the growth of Chlorel- la sp. was not clear. The increment in dry weight of Chlorella sp. in the tested water samples during 5 weeks did not exceed that in distilled water except the sample collected near the effluent of the fertilizer plant.