Phycoremediation of Organic Animal Waste Using Chlorella vulgaris Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Perspectives

Albattat, Zahraa; Jassim, Adel

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2025.448431

Phycoremediation of Organic Animal Waste Using Chlorella vulgaris Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Perspectives

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2025.448431

Abstract

Water pollution remains one of the most pressing global environmental challenges, requiring rapid and efficient treatment strategies to achieve sustainability. Among the major contributors are organic wastes and fertilizers rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, particularly in agricultural areas. Algal treatment, specifically with Chlorella, has emerged as a widely adopted and highly effective method that combines treatment efficiency with environmental sustainability. In this study, a treatment system was designed consisting of a mechanical filtration unit (sand and gravel) connected to an algal treatment tank with a working volume of 25 liters. The algal tank was inoculated with Chlorella at 25% culture density, maintained under 12 hours of daily light exposure and continuous aeration. In parallel, under identical conditions (volume, duration, and aeration), a portion of water from the mechanical tank was directed into an algae-free control tank to serve as a reference. The Chlorella-based treatment system achieved substantial pollutant removal efficiencies: 84.12% for BOD₅, 96.67% for nitrate, 100% for ammonia, and 89.57% for phosphate. Furthermore, the redox potential (ORP) of the treated water increased from −98mV to +225mV, clearly indicating enhanced oxidative conditions and a significant overall improvement in water quality.

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