Phycoremediation and Business Prospects

Abstract Phycoremediation —remediation by employing algae is an emerging technology and it provides a great business opportunities in India and in other countries. In India this technology has been successfully developed and implemented by Phycospectrum Environmental Research Centre (PERC) in large-scale treatment of a variety of industrial effluents. The technology involves three stages viz., (1) lab feasibility trial, (2) pilot scale at industry site, and (3) scaling up. The benefits include, pH correction, color and odor removal, sludge reduction, BOD and COD reduction, nutrient removal including ammonia, better management of R/O rejects, reduction of operation costs (90%) and flue gas/carbon mitigation. Customized solution is developed and installed in industries. World’s first ever large scale effluent treatment plant was established in 2006 at Ranipet by PERC. Following this successful technology implementation, PERC took up the challenge of developing similar algae based technology for managing effluents from chemical industries, textile dyeing industries, oil drilling industry, etc. Phycoremediation has several advantages and the most important one is its cost effectiveness and eco-friendly approach. Significant sludge reduction, effective pH correction, and BOD and COD reduction are some of the other advantages. This technology does not involve all those toxic chemicals which are normally employed in conventional treatment process. Although this technology is considered as “low technique technology” considerable amount of experience and expertise are needed to develop it. Carbon sequestration is yet another application of algal technology. Micro algae are known for high tolerance to increased CO 2 levels and other impurities in flue gases and ideal organisms for carbon mitigation. The algal biomass generated while treating effluent can be used to produce valuable materials including biofertilizers, aquaculture feed, biogas, biodiesel, etc. Integrating bioremediation with biomass and bioenergy production can address the problem of water availability, nutrient costs, and environmental health. Growing algae in effluents provides ideal conditions for higher biomass and oil production and make the process economically viable.