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The effect of salinity concentration on algal biomass production and nutrient removal from municipal wastewater by Dunaliella salina
Author(s) -
Liu Yu,
Yildiz Ilhami
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.3967
Subject(s) - wastewater , bioproducts , dunaliella salina , biomass (ecology) , salinity , nutrient , environmental science , sewage treatment , pulp and paper industry , biofuel , bioenergy , dunaliella , environmental chemistry , environmental engineering , chemistry , biology , agronomy , botany , algae , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , engineering
Summary Extensive amounts of organic and inorganic substances are discharged into the environment, and they have been ascribed to a number of anthropogenic activities including agriculture, industry, and domestic processes. Microalgae, as a promising alternative feedstock for bioenergy production, have advantages in the uptake of nutrients from wastewater for biomass production. This study assessed the feasibility of mass cultivation of microalgae in controlled environment tertiary treated municipal wastewater. Dunaliella salina ( D salina ) was selected for its high beta carotene generation capacity and being a halophilic species to protect our freshwater resources further in wastewater remediation. Nutrient analyses indicated that D salina can significantly remove nitrate, ammonia, and phosphorus from municipal wastewater in the range of 45% to 88%. Among all combinations studied, the optimal algal growth was observed at 30 ppt salinity level, with a 75% wastewater concentration (3:1 ratio of wastewater and saline water mixture—the growth medium). The findings concluded that D salina has great capacity for nutrient uptake while providing high‐value bioproducts. It can therefore be recommended as a potential candidate species that could be used in wastewater treatment systems coupled with high‐value bioproducts production.