Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
12
Phycoremediation
by High-Rate Algal
Ponds (HR APs)
Ismail Rawat, Ramanathan Ranjith Kumar,
and Faizal Bux
Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology
Durban University of Technology
Durban, South Africa
CONTENTS
12.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 179
12.2 Wastewater Characteristics ........................................................................... 181
12.2.1 Physical Characteristics .................................................................... 182
12.2.2 Chemical Characteristics .................................................................. 184
12.2.3 Biological Characteristics ................................................................. 184
12.3 Phycoremediation ......................................................................................... 185
12.4 Algae Species Used for Phycoremediation ................................................... 186
12.5 High-Rate Algal Ponds (HRAPs) ................................................................. 187
12.5.1 Nutrient Removal .............................................................................. 188
12.5.2 Factors Affecting High-Rate Algae Ponds ....................................... 190
12.5.3 Efficiency of Wastewater Treatment and Algal Growth ................... 191
12.6 Wastewater as Feedstock for Biomass Production ....................................... 192
12.7 Economics and Energy Balance of Phycoremediation Using HRAPs ......... 194
12.8 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 195
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................. 195
References .............................................................................................................. 196
12.1 INTRODUCTION
The disposal of liquid and solid waste in rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans has been
occurring for extended periods of time. Increasing industrialization to serve rapidly
expanding urban population needs generates large amounts of wastewater that require
treatment before release in order to prevent further environmental deterioration. Point
source wastewater contamination has the capacity to “overload” receiving water bodies
and is the most widespread threat to environmental water quality. Wastewater gener-
ally contains high concentrations of organic and inorganic nutrients, which are among
the main causes of irreversible ecological degradation. This disrupts the bio-system
179
Search WWH ::
Custom Search