Simulated textile effluent treatment and biomass production through an integrated ozonation and microalgae process:...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Biotechnology
• Water Treatment Technologies
• Algal Bioremediation

Background:

• Textile effluents pose significant environmental challenges due to persistent pollutants.
• Ozonation is effective but costly; combining it with microalgae cultivation can enhance efficiency and sustainability.
• Microalgae like Chlorella sorokiniana can utilize treated effluent components for biomass production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate an integrated ozonation and microalgae (Chlorella sorokiniana) process for simulated textile effluent treatment.
• To optimize key process parameters including ozonation time (OT), microalgae aeration rate (MA), and ozonated effluent proportion (PE).
• To maximize biomass production while ensuring effective pollutant removal to meet discharge standards.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) for process optimization.
• Evaluated the impact of OT, MA, and PE on pollutant removal (ammoniacal nitrogen, color, phosphorus) and biomass production.
• Employed simulated textile effluent for controlled experimental conditions.

Main Results:

• Achieved over 96% removal of ammoniacal nitrogen and 74% color removal.
• Observed phosphorus removal rates between 57% and 96%.
• Identified optimal conditions: 19.30 min OT, 3 L·min⁻¹ MA, and 100% PE, yielding >94% color and phosphorus removal and high biomass productivity (3.18 × 10⁻² g·L⁻¹·day⁻¹).

Conclusions:

• The integrated ozonation-microalgae process is a highly effective strategy for textile effluent treatment.
• Optimized conditions enable simultaneous pollutant removal and significant biomass generation.
• This approach presents a sustainable and cost-efficient solution for managing textile wastewater.