Removal of nutrients from synthetic wastewater by different Brazilian chlorophyte strains in batch bioreactors under various light regimes

Abstract

With the increase in pollution and improper waste disposal, aquatic ecosystems are experiencing escalating degradation leading to various detrimental effects, including eutrophication and adverse impacts on the health of the population reliant on these water resources. Consequently, microalgae have demonstrated efficacy in nutrient removal, minimal environmental disruption, and superior cost-effectiveness in comparison to traditional treatment methods. Thus, this study aimed to investigate wastewater treatment in an aerobic batch system, using two strains of non-axenic mixotrophic chlorophytes, Chlorella sp. and Desmodesmus sp., across distinct light regimes: continuous light exposure for 24 h, a photoperiod of 12 h light and 12 h darkness, and complete absence of light for 24 h. The Desmodesmus sp. strain exhibited superior efficiency in the proposed biological treatment, yielding more favorable nutrient removal results across all conditions, except for total nitrogen removal under the 24-h continuous light condition in which Chlorella sp. removed 0.199 ± 0.02% by biomass. In other parameters, Desmodesmus sp., remediated by biomass 0.408 ± 0.013% of inorganic phosphorus in 24 h light, 0.372 ± 0.011% of COD and 0.416 ± 0.004% of carbohydrate in 24 h dark. While Chlorella sp. removed 0.221 ± 0.01% of inorganic phosphorus in 24 h light, 0.164 ± 0.02% of COD in 24 h light and 0.214 ± 0.002% of carbohydrates in 24 h dark. Nevertheless, both strains displayed potential as viable alternatives for wastewater biological treatment, indicating that nutrient removal is achievable across all tested light conditions, albeit with variations in efficiency depending on the specific nutrient type.