Abstract
Eutrophication of surface water has become an environmental concern in recent decades. High concentrations of nutrients, especially nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich species, have contributed to the process of eutrophication, highlighting a demand for effective and economical methods of removing nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. This study aimed to investigate the ability of a green microalga species, Scenedesmus sp., to remove nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), from fertilizer plant wastewater. Different microalgae concentrations from 10 mg/L to 60 mg/L were used to assess the growth rate, biomass production, and removal ability. The results indicated that Scenedesmus sp. grew well in the wastewater (with a growth rate from 0.3 to 0.38/day) and produced up to 70.2 mg/L of dry biomass. The algal species was able to remove ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3−), phosphate (PO43−), total phosphorus (TP), COD, and BOD5 with removal rates up to 93%, 84%, 97%, 96%, 93%, and 84%, respectively. Autobioflocculation (AFL) was observed in all cultures with flocculation activity of up to 88.3% in the highest algal biomass treatment. The formation of bioflocculation enhanced the removal of nutrients, COD, and BOD5 from wastewater effluent. The results indicated that wastewater from a fertilizer plant could be used as a cost-effective growth medium for algal biomass. The autoflocculation of microalgae could be used as a more practical approach for wastewater treatment using microalgae to eliminate eutrophication.
Highlights
The intensity of agricultural and industrial activities, together with rapid urbanization, has generated large amounts of wastewaters [1]. e continuous disposal of wastewaters without appropriate treatment to water sources has posed severe water pollution problems, especially in developing countries [2]. ese effluents contain a high concentration of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are the leading causes of eutrophication in natural waters [3]. is condition is favorable for the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs) resulted in the degradation of water quality and impairment of freshwater ecosystems [4]
Characteristics of Wastewater. e wastewater used for the experiment was analyzed for evaluating physicochemical characteristics. e physico-chemical parameters of the wastewater, including pH, temperature, main nutrient species, as well as BOD5 and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were presented in Table 1. e wastewater effluent collected from the Phu My Fertilizer
Wastewater Treatment Plant could be used as a cheap source of nutrients for microalgal cultivation. e characterized of the raw wastewater was noted to be favorable for microalgae growth
Summary
Removal of Nutrients from Fertilizer Plant Wastewater Using Scenedesmus sp.: Formation of Bioflocculation and Enhancement of Removal Efficiency. Especially nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich species, have contributed to the process of eutrophication, highlighting a demand for effective and economical methods of removing nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. Is study aimed to investigate the ability of a green microalga species, Scenedesmus sp., to remove nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), from fertilizer plant wastewater. Different microalgae concentrations from 10 mg/L to 60 mg/L were used to assess the growth rate, biomass production, and removal ability. E formation of bioflocculation enhanced the removal of nutrients, COD, and BOD5 from wastewater effluent. E results indicated that wastewater from a fertilizer plant could be used as a cost-effective growth medium for algal biomass. Autobioflocculation (AFL) was observed in all cultures with flocculation activity of up to 88.3% in the highest algal biomass treatment. e formation of bioflocculation enhanced the removal of nutrients, COD, and BOD5 from wastewater effluent. e results indicated that wastewater from a fertilizer plant could be used as a cost-effective growth medium for algal biomass. e autoflocculation of microalgae could be used as a more practical approach for wastewater treatment using microalgae to eliminate eutrophication
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