The Ability of Scenedesmus quadricauda to Treat Chloride, Phosphate and Nitrite from Industrial Wastewater

Abstract

The current study included testing the ability of Scenedesmus quadricauda to reduce the values of some pollutants ( chloride, phosphate and nitrite ) from the wastewater at Al Waha Factory for the Production of Soft Drinks and Juices in Babylon governorate, in Iraq. Some physical and chemical properties of wastewater were measured before treatment. Wastewater at Al Waha factory was used as a cultivation medium for the development of Scenedesmus quadricauda by cultivating it in wastewater under stable laboratory conditions at a temperature of (25  2)oC and in a 16:8 hour light system, lighting: dark. The Scenedesmus quadricauda, was acclimated in wastewater for a period of (3, 6, 9, 12 and 15) days before employed in treating settled wastewater at Al Waha factory. The results showed that the efficiency of Scenedesmus quadricauda for removing Chloride was 60%, the efficiency for removing phosphorous was 100% and the efficiency for removing nitrite was 99.3%, and this indicates that Scenedesmus quadricauda was active and consumed more nutrients from wastewater for its metabolism and growth, which led to the removal of nutrients. These rates were indications that these algae are valuable means of improving the quality of wastewater. This study demonstrated the possibility of using common Scenedesmus to reduce environmental pollution from wastewater in Iraq. Types of bacteria found in wastewater before treatment Klebsiella, Escherichia coli Bacillus, Shigella spp, Salmonella spp, Enterobactera, Vibrio paraheomolyticus, Proteus spp and Klebsiella.