Transforming Wastewater into Biofuel: Nutrient Removal and Biomass Generation with <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i>

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of Chlorella vulgaris for nutrient removal and biomass production in synthetic wastewater. The experiments were conducted in 2 L photobioreactors under controlled aeration, agitation, and lighting conditions for 19 days. Despite a moderate growth rate (0.137 d−1), C. vulgaris achieved efficient pollutant removal, with 97% of nitrate, 90% of nitrite, and 90.6% of COD eliminated. Additionally, the biomass was processed to extract fatty acids, yielding a 20% extraction rate, indicating its potential as a biofuel feedstock. These results demonstrate C. vulgaris’s dual function in wastewater remediation and biofuel production, presenting a sustainable and economically viable approach to addressing environmental challenges.

Keywords

• <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i>
• nutrients removal
• microalgae growth
• wastewater
• algal biomass