The Impact of Inoculum Preparation Media on Pollutant Removal through Phycoremediation of Agricultural Drainage Water by Desmodesmus sp.

Abstract

Water is the most essential natural resource for the future development. Agriculture production is extensively water-dependent and a significant polluter of water resources. So, this work investigated the effect of two different preparation media [Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM) and Domiati cheese whey (DCW)] for agricultural drainage water (ADW) remediation. All treatments were incubated for 6 days. According to the results of biomass productivity, specific growth rate, photosynthetic pigments, and biochemical composition, Desmodesmus sp. can grow in drainage water without dilution. The two treatments significantly reduced the concentration of nitrate, phosphate, chemical oxygen demand, and sodium in ADW. Finally, using cheese whey with BBM as inoculum preparation media enhanced the lipid accumulation in the algal biomass (25.4% w/w) and gave the best biodiesel properties among treatments. Therefore, combining remediation of drainage water with microalgae mass production can achieve the sustainability of agriculture.