Cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in alkaline condition for biodiesel feedstock after biological treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater

Abstract

In recent years, turning to alternative and renewable energy sources has gained importance due to increasing greenhouse gases and climate crises. Microalgae are used in many fields such as food, pharmacy, cosmetics, mainly as biofuels. While microalgae are being developed for biodiesel production, studies on using wastewater instead of artificial nutrient media have increased in recent years. The aim of study is growing Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) culture in poultry slaughterhouse wastewater from biological treatment. Poultry slaughterhouse wastewater have high ammonium and phosphate content. Thus, algae culture was developed to obtain biodiesel raw material, advanced treatment of wastewater was carried out at the same time. The study has been conducted at five different pH between pH 9-11, and the pH 10.5 sample gave the most relevant result. Experiments have been carried out in alkaline conditions to destroy rotifers and provide a suitable environment for the growth of C. vulgaris in biologically treated water. At the end of the twelfth day, ammonium and phosphate removals at pH 10.5 have been obtained as 99% and 96.43%, respectively. The lipid ratio of grown C. vulgaris has been achieved as 17.403% of its dry weight. The fatty acid methyl ester content of C. vulgaris developed at pH 10.5 consists of 0.093% palmitic acid, 0.080% oleic acid, 0.032% linoleic acid, and 0.011% linolenic acid in dry biomass.