Nutrient Removal and Biochemical Content Yield of Chloroidium ellipsoideum Cultivation in Domestic Wastewater Environment

Abstract Various wastewater and substrates are used as media to preserve existing water reserves for algae cultivation and to eliminate or reduce the cost of chemicals used. In this study, the growth, biochemical content, nutrient removal capacity, and antioxidant activity of Chloroidium ellipsoideum isolated from Lake Sapanca was investigated, using the wastewater as a culture medium taken from the Karaman Wastewater Treatment Facility, located within the borders of Sakarya province. While Bg11 medium was used as a control in the study, the growth of C. ellipsoideum was followed for 7 days in wastewater as diluted and undiluted environments with Bg11 medium. Algae grown in the Bg11:Ww had the highest dry biomass amount, and total protein and total carbohydrate percentages. While the most effective removal of nitrate-nitrogen was observed in the Ww, the most effective removal of orthophosphate was observed in Bg11:Ww. The total phenolic content of C. ellipsoideum grown in three environments was determined as 29.2 mg GAE g −1 in Bg11, 18 mg GAE g −1 in Bg11:Ww and 22.4 mg GAE g −1 in Ww. Additionally, antioxidant activity was determined to be related to the amount of total phenolic substances. As a result, this study has demonstrated its usability in algae production by supporting the wastewater environment with standard nutrient media in attempts to improve the high costs of algae cultivation.