Microalgae for Phosphorus Chemical Wastewater Treatment and Recovery of Phosphorus

Abstract

Phosphorus chemical enterprises generate a large amount of wastewater containing phosphorus and fluorine in their production process. Even when treated and discharged in compliance with standards, this wastewater can still have a severe impact on the environment. Previous studies have found that microalgae have promising potential for wastewater treatment due to their ability to utilize inorganic compounds such as nitrates and phosphates as nutrients for growth. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the phosphorus removal efficiency in phosphorus chemical wastewater, particularly under the stress of fluoride (F-). In this study, four different microalgal strains were cultured in phosphorus chemical wastewater, and their biomass, metabolic activity, photosynthesis, and phosphorus removal rates were measured. The results showed that Chlorella sp. exhibited excellent growth in * chemical wastewater with high fluoride stress, achieving the highest phosphorus removal efficiency at 93.4% among the four strains. The phosphorus removal mechanism of Chlorella sp. was analyzed using FT-IR technology, revealing that phosphorus was adsorbed through the formation of P-O-P bonds and Lewis acid-base interactions. Moreover, the phosphorus absorbed by Chlorella sp. could be recovered for reuse, which is crucial for resource conservation, environmental protection, and sustainable manufacturing.

Keywords: phosphorus chemical wastewater, Chlorella sp., phosphorus removal and recovery