Investigation on phenol degradation capability of

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology
• Microbial Ecology

Background:

• Phenol is a toxic pollutant found in industrial wastewater.
• Effective phenol removal is crucial for environmental protection.
• Algal-based bioremediation offers a sustainable approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the phenol biodegradation capacity of Scenedesmus regularis.
• To investigate the impact of operational parameters on phenol removal efficiency.
• To determine the kinetic parameters of phenol degradation.

Main Methods:

• Batch experiments were conducted to assess phenol removal by Scenedesmus regularis.
• Parameters optimized included pH, algal cell dosage, and initial phenol concentration.
• Michaelis-Menten kinetics were applied to model the degradation process.

Main Results:

• Scenedesmus regularis demonstrated high phenol removal efficiency, reaching up to 96.20% at 15 mg/L.
• Removal rates decreased with increasing phenol concentrations above 15 mg/L.
• The Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters were determined as Vmax = 0.82 mg phenol/g algae/h and Km = 24.97 ppm.

Conclusions:

• Scenedesmus regularis is a promising candidate for the bioremediation of phenol-contaminated water.
• The study provides insights into the kinetics of algal phenol degradation.
• The spent algal biomass can be utilized for biofuel and animal feed, promoting a circular economy.