The efficiency of phosphate ion removal from waste water effluent using microalgae in the laboratory scale

Human activities and urbanization have led to increase in the discharge of phosphorus in municipal wastewater systems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the ability of Chlorella vulgaris to remove phosphate from waste water. Therefore microalgae were cultured in laboratory conditionwith the volume of 350 ml of wastewater in order to investigate the refining effects during 8-day period. Based on the results, the removal rates were found to be 40.65%, 38.02%, 24.42% and 72.20 % for days 1 to 4, 4 to 6, 6 to 8 and 1 to 8 respectively. It can be concluded that the algae are able to remove phosphorus from aqueous solutions and Chlorella vulgaris has a high potential for reducing phosphate from aqueous solutions. Therefore itcould be used to remove phosphorus from effluent, althoughmore research is needed at different climatic conditions. Keywords: Aqueous solution; Chlorellavulgaris; Effluent; Microalgae; Phosphorus removal