Phycoremediation of Metal Pollution of Wastewater

Abstract

Huge interest has recently arisen toward using various kinds of inexpensive and available alternative techniques for wastewater treatment and removal of heavy metals. One of them is the usage of ready biomass of several kinds of algae (macroalgae and microalgae).In this study, we concerned about applying the phycoremediation technology as an alternative, eco-friendly technology for wastewater treatment. We examine the potential of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus quadricauda (microalgae) and the brown macroalga, Dictyota Dichotoma and Turbinaria Ornata in this technology, (pilot-scale laboratory study). We analyzed the physicochemical characteristic of wastewater before and after treatment with algae and determine the removal capacity of algae for contaminated heavy metals. The results obtained showed that the maximum growth rate, growth index and biomass productivity were obtained at 10 6 cell/ml concentration which was recommended to be used in wastewater treatment. Microalgae pollutants removal efficiency was reached 92.7and 87.5 % for BOD and COD respectively and 100% for TN and TP, while of Turbinaria Ornata reached 44.4,29.3,37.8,84.2,65.3,67.5, 67.8, and 67.1% for TDS, Salinity, Conductivity, Turbidity, BOD, COD, TN and TP respectively but of Dictyota Dichotoma reached 52.3, 39.3, 50.6, 95.3, 72.1, 71.3, 73.5 and 70.4% respectively at the end of the study.