Assessment of Phycoremediation Potential of Chlorella sorokiniana Wastewater Treatment: Analysis of Biochemical Component Changes

Abstract

Using algae for wastewater treatment offers significant advantages, including providing oxygen for bacteria through photosynthesis, reducing energy demand by eliminating the need for aeration, minimizing the formation of hazardous toxic slush producing useful algal biomass, and recycling nutrients present in the wastewater. In the study, Chlorella sorokiniana was isolated from domestic wastewater samples collected from municipal wastewater of the Katsina metropolis (River Ginzo). The isolated Chlorella sorokiniana was cultured in BG-11 media for ten weeks, and cell density was monitored using a haemacytometer. Twelve flasks containing 100mL wastewater samples each were inoculated with 10mL of cultured Chlorella sorokiniana and incubated at 25°C under 12/12h light/dark photoperiods for four weeks. Physicochemical parameters were analysed weekly. Results showed an increase in Chlorella sorokiniana cell density from (6.33±2.31) x10⁴ at week one to (53.33±26.60) x10⁴ at week ten. Remediation efforts resulted in reduction percentages for various parameters: total dissolved solids (57.7%), nitrate (99.96%), phosphorus (100%), ammonium (99.98%), potassium (91.65%), zinc (87.03%), manganese (90.63%), iron (79.44%), copper (50.62%), and nickel (30.10%). pH remained neutral, and dissolved oxygen increased over the weeks. Significant differences in biochemical components were observed before and after treatment. The remediation of diverse wastewater samples using Chlorella sorokiniana was effective, leading to the accumulation of biomass rich in biochemical components such as lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. The accumulated biomass can be utilized for further research purposes. This study highlights the potential of Chlorella sorokiniana for phycoremediation and underscores its ability to improve water quality while generating valuable biomass for additional applications.