RETREATMENT OF TOXIC INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT BY MICROALGAE CULTIVATION FOR POTENTIAL BIOFUEL PRODUCTION

*Lakshmi Praba S., Subashini R., Dhivya K. and Nandhini Devi S.

ABSTRACT

Industrial effluent having Organic & Inorganic chemicals which were released into the environment as a result of domestic, agriculture and industrial water activities lead to environmental pollution, The process have been used to treat the industrial effluents to eliminate the easily settled organic chemicals present in effluent and which is reused for beneficial purpose. This effluent is however loaded with some inorganic chemicals like N2 & P and causes eutrophication, longer term problems because of the heavy metals that are released. Microalgae are the third generation source provides a valuable way for treatment of effluents, because they provide a tertiary bio treatment along with the production of biofuel. Microalgae have the ability to utilize inorganic N2 & p as a nutrient for their growth. And also, capacity to use heavy metals as well as some toxic chemicals. In this present study, the industrial effluents were treated by Chlorella sp., Scenedesmus sp., Desmococcus sp., coupled with biofuel production. The species (Chlorella sp., Scenedesmus sp.,) were collected from Phycospectrum Environmental Research Centre and the Desmococcus sp., was isolated from nearby drainage areas and the effluent was collected from various dye industry and match industry. The collected species were subjected to screening for the effective utilization of nutrients from effluent. And also the growth was observed in the addition of Macronutrients, Micronutrients and effluent. The bio treated effluent was undergone for physico-chemical properties. From this study we concludes that the Chlorella sp., and Desmococcus sp., shows the maximum growth and highlighted on effective utilization of organic & inorganic substances and should be used for biofuel production.

Keywords: Effluents, Inorganic n2&p, Microalgae, Macro & Micronutrients, Biofuel production.