Bioremediation of industrial wastes using Chlorella vulgaris as biological model

GAGNETEN, A.M.; REGALDO, L.; RENO, U.

Serdang Selangor

Simposio; The Second Bioprocessing and Biomanufacturing Symposium; 2017

In the present work, physical and chemical characterization of a tanning effluent with Cr was carried out and the efficiency of remediation by Chlorella vulgaris in Photo-Bio-Reactors (FBRs) was evaluated. Microalgae were harvested in exponential growth phase, centrifuged and resuspended in sterile ultrapure distilled water. For each test, 1L of effluent was used with 1.93 (± 0.08) mg L-1 Cr, a control -FBRs (effluent without microalgae) and a treatment -FBRs (effluent with microalgae: 707,333 cells. L-1). During the assays under constant agitation and illumination, pH, T° and dissolved O2 were registered. After 6, 10, 24, 30 and 36 h, 50 mL samples were taken, centrifuged by separating the effluent from the pellet (microalgae). Both matrices were digested and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The Cr removal (%) was assessed, and the amount of Cr in pellet and supernatant were correlated. Student's t-test was applied to compare the amount of Cr accumulated in pellets of the control and the treatment. Cr removal from tannery effluent was: 59.2%, 60.9%, 62.8%, 63.46% and 60.7% at 6, 10, 24, 30 and 36 h respectively, with significant differences between controls and treatments (p =0.01). Significant negative correlations were observed between the final concentration of Cr in pellet and supernatant (r= -0.95; p =0.01), confirming the potential of C. vulgaris as Cr bioremediator from tannery industrial effluents.