Comparison of Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella sorokiniana pa.91 in post treatment of dairy wastewater treatment plant effluents.

Treatment of wastewater by using of microalgae is a cost-effective system. Chlorella sorokiniana pa.91 and Chlorella vulgaris were studied in this research. Chlorella sorokiniana pa.91 was isolated from the dairy wastewater. In this study, treated wastewaters in preliminary and secondary treatment units of dairy wastewater treatment plant were used as medium. Maximum growth of two species of microalgae was examined in these two mediums, and also, nutrient removal was studied. The performance of two species of microalgae was studied on laboratory scale at different temperatures and light intensities. The best observed temperatures for Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella sorokiniana pa.91 were 25 and 28 °C, respectively, and the best observed performance for them was obtained at 7500 lx. The values of specific growth rate and biomass productivity in effluent of preliminary treatment unit for Chlorella vulgaris were 0.331 day-1 and 0.214 g L-l day-1, respectively, and for Chlorella sorokiniana pa.91 were 0.375 day-1 and 0.233 g L-l day-1, respectively. Also, these parameters for Chlorella vulgaris in effluent of secondary treatment unit were determined 0.359 day-1 and 0.166 g L-l day-1, respectively, and for Chlorella sorokiniana pa.91 were obtained 0.422 day-1 and 0.185 g L-l day-1, respectively. The removal efficiency of nitrate, ammonia, phosphate, and chemical oxygen demand for Chlorella sorokiniana pa.91 and Chlorella vulgaris in both of effluents was more than 80%. Based on the results, effluent of treatment plants can be a suitable microalgae growth medium, and the microalgae can be used as effective post treatment system.