Phycoremediation of textile and tannery industrial effluents using microalgae and their consortium for biodiesel production

Abstract

The study reveals the treatment of textile and tannery effluents using freshwater microalgal strains, Chlorella vulgaris (NRMC-F 0128), Scenedesmus dimorphus (NRMC-F 0178), Coelastrella sp., (NRMC-F 0179) and Chlorococcum sp., (NRMC-F 0181) isolated from betel field. The physiochemical parameters of the textile and tannery effluents were analyzed prior to the experimentations. The nutrient removal efficiency of all the cultures was evaluated in both lab and outdoor conditions. Further, a consortium of two efficiently growing and lipid producing strains, Chlorella vulgaris (NRMC-F 0128), Scenedesmus dimorphus (NRMC-F 0178) was tested against effluent degradation under 30 L pond conditions. The levels of pH, TDS (total dissolved solids), EC and nitrite, nitrate, sodium, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, lead, iron, copper and cadmium of both the textile mill and tannery industrial effluents were reduced upon algae mediated remediation. Further, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus dimorphus consortium produced high amounts of lipid in lab conditions of about 31.20% and 29.50% using textile mill effluent and tannery industrial effluent, respectively; while in outdoor conditions, the lipid was 30.40% and 28.50% respectively. Eventually, the fatty acid analysis showed oleic acid as the major fatty acid in lipids of the consortium, which makes it a plausible candidate for biodiesel production.