Preliminary Investigation of Wastewater Phycoremediation and Biomass Productivity using Locally Isolated Green Microalgae from Ipoh, Malaysia

This study investigated the potential of microalgae, sourced from a pond in Gunung Lang, Ipoh, Malaysia, for the phycoremediation of domestic wastewater. Under laboratory conditions, identified and confirmed microalgae species were introduced to wastewater samples to assess their capacity for removing Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals such as chromium and zinc. The study also examined the relationship between algae growth rates and nutrient absorption, alongside a detailed analysis of wastewater to determine the extent of pollutant reduction. Initial analyses revealed that the COD levels of the domestic wastewater stood at 158 mg/l, failing to meet the Effluent Standard requirements as per the Malaysia Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluents) Regulations 2009. nitrogen levels were measured at 11.16 mg/l, phosphorus at 5.56 mg/l, chromium at 1.53 mg/l, and zinc at 0.53 mg/l under the heavy metal category. The study demonstrates that phycoremediation significantly reduces pollutants and nutrients in wastewater samples. Remarkably, zinc removal achieved a 100% success rate, while the lowest pollutant removal was observed for COD at the 104 cell concentration in 100% wastewater concentration samples. The outcomes highlighted the efficacy of using microalgae for wastewater treatment, showing considerable promise in reducing environmental pollutants.