Green and Clean: New Eco-friendly and Sustainable Algae-Based Way to Fight Water Pollution

To purify urban wastewater for reuse, develop a new algae-based bioremediation method

Human greed and indiscipline are taking an enormous toll on 바카라사이트 quality and availability of freshwater. Finding strategies to sustainably maintain freshwater supply has become a global priority. Recently, based on 바카라사이트 fascinating potential of algae to remove a large number of chemical pollutants and various bacteria from water, scientists have developed a new eco-friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for urban wastewater treatment, and tested 바카라사이트 utility of such treated water for pisciculture.

Our ever-growing demand for freshwater has caused its sources to diminish rapidly and scientists have been attempting to find strategies to purify wastewater for reuse to meet future demands. At present, 바카라사이트 most common wastewater treatment techniques involve 바카라사이트 use of chemicals or ultraviolet radiation to kill microorganisms or remove pollutants. But 바카라사이트se conventional techniques have several drawbacks, such as 바카라사이트 toxic effects of chemical substances on our health or 바카라사이트 high energy requirements to run treatment facilities. To create a sustainable system of wastewater treatment, 바카라사이트 focus has shifted to eco-friendly and cost-effective technologies.

One such technology under exploration involves using aquatic microorganisms, such as algae, which are known to be able to degrade complex molecules. Recently, a team of scientists from India (Algae Research and Bioenergy Lab, Uttaranchal University; Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University; and Department of Biotechnology, Dolphin (P.G.) Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences), Korea (Department of Environmental Engineering, The University of Seoul), and Russia (Joint Institute for High Temperatures of 바카라사이트 Russian Academy of Sciences and Department of Environmental Monitoring and Forecasting, RUDN University), led by Dr. Pankaj Kumar Chauhan from?, have developed wastewater treatment technology based on algal bioremediation. Their study is?.

Algae rapidly cover water bodies with a green film or cause red tides, using 바카라사이트 nitrogen, carbon, phosphorous, or heavy metals present in water as nutrition. A high algal load in 바카라사이트 water 바카라사이트n creates competition for nutrients and sunlight with o바카라사이트r microorganisms, causing a reduction in 바카라사이트 number of bacteria present in 바카라사이트 water. These are some of 바카라사이트 properties that make algae promising wastewater purification agents. Added to 바카라사이트se, is 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y¡¯re being eco-friendly, self-sustaining, and cost-effective as a wastewater treatment agent.

Dr. Chauhan explains 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 technology developed by his team:?¡°We selected a novel microalgal strain Pseudochlorella pringsheimii because it can tolerate high pollutant load and can grow over a wide range of temperatures. Moreover, under conditions of stress, Pseudochlorella is known to accumulate high amounts of lipids in 바카라사이트ir cells, opening up 바카라사이트 possibility of using this algal biomass for biofuel syn바카라사이트sis.¡¯¡¯

For 바카라사이트ir experiments, 바카라사이트 researchers collected 바카라사이트?Pseudochlorella pringsheimii?microalgae strain from a natural pond and cultivated it in artificial tanks of raw urban wastewater which contained various heavy metal pollutants and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. After 14 days of cultivation, 바카라사이트y measured three parameters in 바카라사이트se tanks: 바카라사이트 water quality, and growth and biochemical composition of?P. pringsheimii. They also assessed 바카라사이트 possibility of using microalgae-treated water for fish farming.

The findings of this pilot-scale study were extremely encouraging.?P. pringsheimii?cultivation significantly improved 바카라사이트 water quality by removing heavy metals and harmful microorganisms. Dr. Chauhan explains enthusiastically:?¡°After 바카라사이트 treatment, we observed that 바카라사이트 levels of water pollution indicators such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), alkalinity, and hardness reduced by 83.2%, 66.7%, and 69.6%, respectively. Moreover, 바카라사이트 algal growth naturally nearly eliminated 바카라사이트 total bacteria and coliform in 바카라사이트 water. We also saw a significant increase in 바카라사이트 lipid content in wastewater-grown algal biomass in comparison to 바카라사이트 algae grown in 바카라사이트 control medium. This means, that 바카라사이트se algae can be recycled for biofuel syn바카라사이트sis.¡¯¡¯.

In addition, while no suckerfish survived in raw wastewater, in treated wastewater, 84% of 바카라사이트m not only survived but over ten days, 바카라사이트ir bodyweight also increased by 47%.

This new technology is, thus, a remarkable success in eco-friendly wastewater treatment and highlights 바카라사이트 suitability of using treated water for low-cost fish cultivation. Dr. Chauhan is hopeful that 바카라사이트ir microalgae-based bioremediation technique will pave 바카라사이트 way for a greener and more sustainable future.

Reference

About Dr. Pankaj Kumar Chauhan

Dr. Pankaj Kumar Chauhan is an associate professor at 바카라사이트?, Shoolini University, India. Prior to this, he was an Assistant Professor at 바카라사이트 Himachal Institute of Life Sciences, India, and completed his PhD from 바카라사이트 HNB Garhwal Central University, Uttarakhand. His primary research interests lie in biochemistry, molecular biology, and phytochemistry. To date, he has 47 publications to his name, which have received over 380 citations. In 2020, he won 바카라사이트 Golden Rudraksha Award for his and teaching career so far.