Antarctic Microalgae Growth in Simulated Wastewater

In recent years, the number of scientific studies in the Antarctic and Arctic regions has increased considerably. While scientific studies allow us to explore the untouched nature of the region and better understand the global climate, they also raise various ecological concerns such as wastewater, air pollution and habitat destruction. This threatens the flora and fauna of the polar regions, negatively affecting biodiversity. It is crucial that we protect the fragile ecosystems of the polar regions through sustainable research practices and international cooperation to prevent pollution, protect habitats and prevent the introduction of invasive species. The Antarctic Treaty and other protocols prohibit the discharge of wastewater into the sea without treatment. For this reason, many research bases in Antarctica have established facilities to treat wastewater. These facilities ensure that wastewater is treated and returned to the sea without harming the environment. However, the wastewater treatment process generates a significant amount of solid waste. As this waste accumulates in the treatment plants, it has to be transported back to the mainland. Antarctica's remoteness and challenging geographical conditions make solid waste transportation logistically difficult and costly. In order to solve these problems, it was aimed to use the algal blooms occurring in Antarctica in the treatment process by cultivating them in wastewater. In the study, it was found that the Antarctic microalgae can be cultivated in domestic wastewater in Antarctic bases and have a high potential for the proposed activities by having approximately 30% of protein content.