Effects of different microalgae Botrycoccus sp. Beads concentrations on the growth and nutrients uptake in kitchen wastewater

Abstract

The present study is aimed to access the growth rates, biomass productivity and nutrient removal in different concentrations of microalgae Botryococcus sp. beads using kitchen wastewater as a media. Verhulst logistic kinetic model was used to measure the optimal concentrations of microalgae Botryococcus sp. in kitchen wastewater in terms of cell growth rate kinetics and biomass productivity. The study verified that the maximum productivity was recorded with 1×106 cell/ml of the initial concentration of Botryococcus sp. with 42.64 mg/l/day and the highest removal of tp and ammonia was obtained (78.14% and 60.53% respectively). The highest specific growth rate of biomass at 0.2896 μmax/d compare to other concentrations, while the lowest occurred at concentrations of 105 cells/ml at 0.0412 μmax/d. The present study shows the different concentrations of Botryococcus sp. in alginate beads culturing in kitchen wastewater influence the cells growth of biomass and nutrient uptake with optimum concentration (106 cells/ml) of Botryococcus sp. which is suggested for wastewater treatment purposes. The result of scanning electron microscopy (sem) shows differences in morphology in terms of surface; smoother and cleaner (before the experiment), cracks and rough surface with black/white spots (after the experiment). These findings seemly can be applied efficiently in kitchen wastewater treatment as well as a production medium for microalgae biomass.