The Potential of Algae-Based Nutrient Removal in Wastewater Treatment

¹ School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, 40450 Selangor, Malaysia
² Centre of Foundation Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Dengkil, 43800 Dengkil, Selangor, Malaysia
³ Xantara Sdn. Bhd, Lot No. 3992 & 3993, No. 20 & 21, Lorong 3/1, Senawang Industrial Estate, 70450 Senawang, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
⁴ Department of Civil Engineering and Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Jalan Colombo 1, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
⁵ Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Perlis, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: norhafezahkasmuri@gmail.com

Abstract

Surface water quality has deteriorated in recent years due to the emerging pollutants from urbanization. In line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), adequate treatment is crucial to enhance the effluent discharges to the water bodies. Therefore, the potential of microalgae as phytoremediation, especially Chlorella vulgaris, in revolutionizing municipal wastewater treatment can be a substitute for the conventional method. Thus, this study aims to determine the percentage of pollutants in wastewater removed via microalgae. Effluent samples were taken from the wastewater treatment plant of Universiti Teknologi MARA, Campus Dengkil, Selangor. The experiment was conducted in an aerated batch reactor with LED light to boost the microalgae growth. Microplastic has been inserted in the batch culture of microalgae to estimate the biodegradation process further. From the results observation, the percentage removal for the ammonia-nitrogen is approximately 98%, with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) at the highest rate of 82%. Later, the reduction percentage of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 96.6%. After the treatment, separately, nitrate-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen removal capacity were obtained as 99% and 99.7%. Lastly, for the phosphorus, the removal percentage was 98.48%. Consequently, this research can better understand the environmental and operational factors which can maximize the formation of algal biofilms and enhance the effectiveness of wastewater treatment. It also underscores the need for further research in optimizing the concentrations and combinations of these additives for more efficient wastewater treatment.