Bio treatment Strategies for the Removal of Phthalate Esters from Asa River using Chlorella vulgaris (MG257915) and Nannochloropsis sp (MG257918) as Biodegradation Tool

Abstract

: Phthalate esters (PEs) is one of the compounds that are known for their endocrine disrupting potential and they are a class of emerging contaminant that are found associated with plastics and other materials. Their presence in the environment is a great environmental concern and hence attention is focused on their reduction, transformation or removal. This study focused on the quantitative evaluation and phycodegradation of PEs in Asa river water sample using a marine (Nannochloropsis sp) and freshwater (Chlorella vulgaris) microalgae under different pH (2, 4, 9 and 13) and contact time (24, 48, 72 and 96 h). A total number of seven phthalates: Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEPH), Butyl Benzyl phthalate (BBP), Diethyl Ester Phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Dimethyl Phthalate (DMP), DiHexyl Phthalate (DnHP), and Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) was obtained and the concentration of five of them was higher than the permissible limit of 3 µg/L. At the expiration of 96 hours, it was observed that C .vulgaris was able to remove and thereby reduce the concentration of the PEs more than the counterpart. Removal efficiency of the PEs by C. vulgaris at an optimum pH of 9 ranged from 71.27% to 100% while Nannochloropsis sp at an optimum pH of 9 was between 34.59% - 67.19%. The outcome of this research has present the two microalgae as potential tools for the biotreatment tool in the removal of phthalate.