Algal growth and nutrients removal as affected by nitrogen source

Abstract EN

The current work was performed aiming at the determine growth line of two different algae species under two different nitrogen sources which in turn affect some nutrients removing from growth medium as an earliest experiment for future use of algae in agricultural drainage water treatment.

Two different algae species were tested in the current study to determine their growth potential as they grown with their original growth media and under replacement of original nitrogen source.

The first alga was Chlorella vulgaris belonging to Chlorophyta, while the second is Spirulina platensis belonging to Cyanophyta.

BG-II growth medium was used for the first one and Zarrouk growth medium was implemented to the second.

The original nitrogen source of both media was substituted by low price form as urea by the same equivalent.

Daily determination of biomass was performed beside nutrients removal.

The results showed that nitrate stimulated growth of both Chlorella and Spirulina algae and urea seems to be the proper in Chlorella growth rather than Spirulina.

Maximum nutrient removal or orption was observed during the early growth period (48 hours).

Chlorella vulgaris was found to be more bio-removal agent rather than Spirulina platensis.