CULTIVATION OF CHLORELLA VULGARIS MICROALGAE IN WASTEWATER

Abstract

In this work, the potential of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae for wastewater treatment was investigated. Parameters, such as pH, conductivity, COD, BOD, TOC and metals content were measured before and after the treatment of wastewater with Chlorella vulgaris microalgae. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and the total amounts of carotenoids in microalgae biomass were determined using methanol as extraction solvent. A decreased trend of photosynthetic pigments was observed in the biomass after wastewater treatment, compared with the control biomass. Removal efficiencies up to 68.1% for Pb, 60.1% for Al, 53.6% for Zn, 51.7% for Cr, 51.6% for Cu and 40% for Cd were obtained. The BOD removal efficiency was 78.9%, while total organic carbon removal efficiency was 42% and COD removal efficiency was only 13.6%.

Keywords

• biomass
• heavy metals
• microalgae
• removal efficiency