Science Letters

Production of Algal Biomass Using Different Dilutions of Textile Effluent Wastewater

Riaz Bibi 1, 6, Allah Ditta 2*, Azhar Hussain 3, Shamaila Noureen 1,4, Azeem Khalid 2, Irfan Aziz 5

1 Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

2 Department of Environmental Sciences, PMAS, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan

3 Department of Soil Science, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63000, Pakistan

4 Department of Environmental Sciences, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000, Faisalabad, Pakistan

5 Department of Agronomy, PMAS, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan

6 Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, South Korea

Abstract

The ability of micro-algae to grow on wastewater for biofuel production has been extensively studied as the wastewater from different industries could serve as a nutrient source for its growth. However, there is scanty information regarding the utilization of textile effluent wastewater as a nutrient source for algal biomass production. So, a laboratory study was conducted to elucidate the potential of textile effluent wastewater as an economical nutrient medium for improved algal biomass production and to compare it with conventionally used modified marine algae medium. Four algal strains belonging to family Volvocaceae (well surface, well depth, fresh water and well side) in five growth media using different dilutions of textile waste water (5, 10, 15 and 20%; v/v) and modified MA medium as control were investigated in triplicate. Algal biomass was harvested after each 24 hours i.e. 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 hours. The results showed that algal biomass was increased with increasing dilution percentage of textile wastewater up to 15%, while a further increase in the dilution percentage (20%) resulted in reduced biomass in most of algal strains. The maximum increase in algal biomass production of well surface (177%) was noted after 144 h incubation followed by well side (55%) and fresh water (7%) strains compared to control. Well depth strain produced maximum biomass in modified MA medium and showed decreased growth under different dilutions of textile wastewater. In conclusion, the dilution percentage of 15% textile effluent wastewater could be used for maximum algal biomass production.

Keywords Algae biomass, different dilutions, textile wastewater, modified MA medium.

Received December 21, 2015 Accepted January 29, 2016 Abstract Published February 20, 2016 Manuscript Published April 15, 2016

*Corresponding author Allah Ditta E-mail ad_abs@yahoo.com Tel +92-51-9292135 Fax +92-51-9290160