Celebration of Scholars
Chlorella vulgaris Growth for Phosphate Removal and Biomass Productivity Utilizing Kenosha Wastewater
Name:
Amanda Eness
Major: Environmental Science
Hometown: Grayslake IL
Faculty Sponsor: Sarah Rubinfeld
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Senior thesis
Abstract
As population increases, so does the demand for water resources and sustainable fuel. Promising new research is used to explore merging wastewater nutrient removal and the development of renewable fuels such as microalgae biofuels. Advances have been made in microalgae biofuels to not only yield a renewable fuel but algae grown can be used for a variety of uses including: wastewater treatment, pharmaceutical applications, and as a fertilizer. The purpose of this study is to increase our understanding of how algae interact in wastewater including phosphate nutrient removal and biomass growth. Chlorella vulgaris was grown in Kenosha County wastewater to determine the step in the wastewater treatment process that is most optimal for algae growth and water treatment. Conditions such as temperature, light, air and CO2 were controlled in an incubator set up at Carthage College. The algae was grown in waste activated sludge centrate, dewatered centrate and final treated wastewater. Phosphate removal was recorded and biomass of the algae was determined throughout the experiment. Further experiments can be done to explore these results along with investigating algae’s interaction with wastewater sources, optimal conditions for growth, and biodiesel applications.Submit date: March 16, 2018, 12:58 p.m.