Feasibility of using microalgal biomass cultured in domestic wastewater for the removal of chromium pollutants

Xu Han, Shan Wong Yuk, Hung Wong Ming, Nora Fung Yee Tam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The feasibility of obtaining and using the biomass of a microalga, Chlorella miniata, from domestic wastewater (DW) cultures for the removal of chromium(III) [Cr(III)] and chromium(VI) [Cr(VI)] was compared with that from commercial Bristol medium (BM). Results showed that Chlorella miniata cultured in DW under 16-8 hours light-dark cycle [DW(16-8)] had similar growth to that in BM [BM(16-8)], but these two biomass had different biochemical compositions, and the former one had lower carbohydrate and higher protein content. When cultured in domestic wastewater, a higher biomass was obtained under continuous illumination [DW(24-0)], and the cells had higher carbohydrate and lower protein concentrations than that of DW(16-8). The spectra of the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer revealed that the functional groups on the surface of the three kinds of biomass - DW(16-8), DW(24-0), and BM(16-8) - were comparable, except an additional peak at 1731 cm-1 was found in the biomass cultured in domestic wastewater, which was probably the result of bacterial contamination. Although biochemical differences were found among the three kinds of microalgal biomass, similar biosorption performances to chromium pollutants were recorded, with approximately 75% Cr(III) and 100% Cr(VI) removed at equilibrium in Cr(III) and Cr(VI) experiments, respectively, when dead biomass was used as a biosorbent. Therefore, it is possible to culture Chlorella miniata in domestic wastewater and use the biomass for the removal of chromium pollutants.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)647-653
Number of pages7
JournalWater Environment Research
Volume80
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Biosorption
  • Chlorella miniata
  • Chromium
  • Domestic wastewater
  • Fourier transform infrared spectrometer
  • Microalga

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