Comparative Studies on Uptake of Wastewater Nutrients by Immobilized Cells of Chlorella minutissima and Dairy Waste Isolated Algae.

The present study has been carried out to assess the nutrient removal potential of two different algal species in immobilized alginate beads for nutrient removal from wastewater. Chlorella minutissima and wild algae isolated from a local dairy waste treatment plant were used in the study. The percentage removal of nutrients (ammonia-N, phosphate and nitrate-N) by algal alginate beads at different time intervals in an aerated photobioreactor has been investigated. Percentage removal of ammonia-N (94% in 48 h) was higher for C. minutissima while dairy waste isolated algae species showed significant removal efficiency for phosphate (100% in 48 h) and nitrate-N (62.5% in 48 h). The study showed that immobilized Chlorella minutissima and isolated wild algae beads were significantly efficient in removing ammonia-N and phosphate from local sewage wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]