Wastewater from instant noodle factory as the whole nutrients source for the microalga Scenedesmus sp. cultivation

Abstract

Cultivation of microalgae using wastewater exhibits several advantages such as nutrient removal and the production of high valuable products such as lipid and pigments. With this study, two types of wastewater from instant noodle factory; mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and effluents after sedimentation tank were investigated for green microalga Scenedesmus sp. cultivation under laboratory condition. Optimal wastewater dilution percentage was evaluated in 24 wells microplate. MLSS and effluent without dilution showed the highest specific growth rate (μ) of 1.63±0.11 day−1and 1.57±0.16 day−1, respectively, in which they were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than Scenedesmus sp. grown in BG11 medium (1.08±0.14 day−1). Ten days experiment was also conducted using 2000 ml Duran bottle as culture vessel under continuous light at approximately 5000 lux intensity and continuous aeration. It was found that maximum biomass density of microalgae cultivated in MLSS and effluent were 344.16 ± 105.60 mg/L and 512.89 ± 86.93 mg/L respectively and there was no significant (p < 0.05) difference on growth to control (BG11 medium). Moreover, cultivation microalgae in wastewater could reduce COD in wastewater by 39.89%-73.37%. Therefore, cultivation of Scenedesmus sp. in wastewater from instant noodle factory can yield microalgae biomass production and wastewater reclamation using photobioreactor simultaneously. © 2014 Korean Society of Environmental Engineers.