MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT USING MICROALGAE

Abstract

Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris ATCC 13482 was applied for treatment of municipal wastewater samples from two different collection centres: Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) at Ulu Pandan (Singapore) and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Navi Mumbai (India). The main objective of this study was to measure and compare the effects of normal air and CO2-augmented air on efficacy of organics and nutrients removal from municipal wastewater by the microalgae. Batch experiments were carried out in bubble column photobioreactors (PBRs) of 1 L and 7 L working volumes with supply of normal air and 5% CO2-enriched air. The enrichment of normal air with 5% CO2 was beneficial showing significant removals of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia, nitrate and phosphate from WRP and STP samples. The kinetic study for rates of ammonia and phosphate consumption have also been shown. Furthermore, the amounts of NPK recovery from algal treatment of the wastewater samples were calculated.