Investigating the growth rate of Tetraselmis algae and its effect on nitrogen removal from aquaculture wastewater

Background: This research investigated the ability of Tetraselmis microalgae to remove nitrates from aquaculture centers' wastewater. This study aimed to investigate the amount of nitrogen reduction by Tetraselmis microalgae in laboratory conditions. Therefore, the factors of algal density, chlorophyll a, specific growth rate, nitrate, and ammonia levels were investigated.Methods: For this aim, Tetraselmis microalgae were grown in laboratory conditions with constant density in 2000 ml (including 1900 mL of distilled water and 100 mL of stock) to investigate the refining effects for 15 days. Simultaneously with the test steps, the concentration of the mentioned factors was determined by standard methods and using an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Results:  The results showed that algal density, chlorophyll concentration, and specific growth rate performed better in the pilot plants containing wastewater, and the use of the studied algae caused a 50% reduction of ammonia and 80% of nitrate from aquaculture center wastewater. Modeling data showed that the above-mentioned microalgae were more than 75% effective in reducing nitrogen from aquaculture center wastewater.Conclusion: The obtained results showed that this species can be used to reduce organic substances in the wastewater of aquaculture center and reduce their discharge into the environment.

Investigating the growth rate of Tetraselmis algae and its effect on nitrogen removal from aquaculture wastewater Keywords:

Wastewater Treatment , Tetraselmis algae , Purification , removal of nitrates