Phycoremediation of carton box industry effluent using consortia of green microalgae Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. and phytotoxicity assessment

ABSTRACT

Industrialization, in the environmental context, has accumulated heavy metal concentrations considerable and it is adversely affecting biological system. In order to regulate heavy metal levels from effluents before their release into the environment, treatment of the wastewaters to reduce the content is mandatory. Phycoremediation is recognized as a cost effective technology for treating industrial effluents. The present study was carried out with the carton box manufacturing industry effluent contaminated with heavy metals collected from Peenya industrial area, Bangalore to determine the phycoremediation potential of algal consortium comprising of Chlorella and Scenedesmus. Microalgal species grown in wastewater with two different concentrations (50 and 100 %) were analyzed for their influence on algae growth, biomass and protein contents. Algae treated effluent showed the reduction of total solids, total dissolved solids and total suspended solids and heavy metal levels. These results indicate the efficacy of algal consortium for phycoremediation of carton box manufacturing industry effluent.