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Microalgal and activated sludge processing for biodegradation of textile dyes
Ghulam Mustafa1, Muhammad Tariq Zahid2, Mayur Bharat Kurade1
1Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea.
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|April 5, 2024
Summary
A microalga and activated sludge consortium efficiently removes textile dyes from wastewater. This integrated approach offers eco-friendly bioremediation, significantly reducing pollutants and improving water quality.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Bioremediation Technologies
- Water Pollution Control
Background:
- Textile industry wastewater poses significant environmental challenges due to dye contamination.
- Azo dyes are common synthetic colorants, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health.
- Bioremediation offers a sustainable alternative to conventional wastewater treatment methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of an integrated bioremediation approach using microalga Chlamydomonas mexicana and activated sludge (ACS) for textile azo dye decolorization and biotransformation.
- To assess the impact of the consortium on key wastewater parameters like BOD, COD, TN, and TP.
- To confirm dye biotransformation pathways using advanced analytical techniques.
Main Methods:
- Cultivation of Chlamydomonas mexicana and activated sludge.
- Treatment of synthetic dye solutions and natural textile wastewater using a C. mexicana and ACS consortium.
- Monitoring of dye decolorization percentages and wastewater quality parameters (BOD, COD, TN, TP).
- Analysis of dye biotransformation using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
Main Results:
- The C. mexicana and ACS consortium achieved high decolorization rates (75%-79%) for three azo dyes at 5 mg L-1, outperforming individual treatments.
- The consortium demonstrated significant removal of pollutants from natural textile wastewater, achieving 90% decolorization and substantial reductions in BOD (82%), COD (72%), TN (64%), and TP (63%).
- HPLC and GC-MS analysis confirmed the biotransformation of azo dyes into simpler metabolites, indicating effective degradation.
Conclusions:
- The integrated bioremediation approach using Chlamydomonas mexicana and activated sludge is highly effective for treating textile azo dye wastewater.
- This consortium offers an efficient and eco-friendly solution for textile wastewater management, reducing environmental pollution.
- The study highlights the potential of microbial consortia for advanced wastewater treatment and pollutant degradation.
