Synergistic effects and optimization of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on the growth and nutrient uptake of a freshwater Chlorella vulgaris. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alketife, Ahmed M.; Judd, Simon; Znad, Hussein
• Is Part Of: Environmental technology. Volume 38:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 94
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Chlorella vulgaris -- nutrient removal -- optimization -- Box–Behnken design; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; 628.05
• DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2016.1186227
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-3330

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The synergistic effects and optimization of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris (CCAP 211/11B, CS-42) and nutrient removal have been investigated under different concentrations of N (0–56 mg/L) and P (0–19 mg/L). The study showed that N/P ratio has a crucial effect on the biomass growth and nutrient removal. When N/P=10, a complete P and N removal was achieved at the end of cultivation with specific growth rate (SGR) of 1 d −1 and biomass concentration of 1.58 g/L. It was also observed that when the N content <2.5 mg/L, the SGR significantly reduced from 1.04 to 0.23 d −1 and the maximum biomass produced was decreased more than three-fold to 0.5 g/L. The Box–Behnken experimental design and response surface method were used to study the effects of the initial concentrations (P, N and C) on P and N removal efficiencies. The optimized P, N and C concentrations supporting 100% removal of both P and N at an SGR of 0.95 were 7, 55 and 10 mg/L respectively, with desirability value of 0.94. The results and analysis obtained could be very useful when applying the microalgae for efficient wastewater treatment and nutrient removal.