A laboratory-scale cultivation of Chlorella and Spirulina using waste effluent from a fertilizer company in Nigeria

Effluent from the National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria (NAFCON), which on average contained principally PO24- 107-187 ppm, NO32- 3 ppm and SO42- 146 ppm, had a pH of 7.4-8.5 and a conductivity of 700-2457 mu MHOS/cm, was found to be a source of nutrients for the laboratory cultivation of Chlorella and Spirulina About 6.1 mg/ml was obtained for Chlorella grown in the effluent (pH 7.4), while 2.7 mg/ml was obtained for Spirulina in a 50:50 mixture of the effluent and filtered sea water (pH 8.3). About 11.0 and 8.5% (w/w dry matter) was obtained as nitrogen for Spirulina and Chlorella in the respective media after 21 days. Chlorella also showed potential for lipid production in this medium, with about 9.5% (w/w) lipid in the wet cells after growth for 21 days. It was concluded that this non-sewage effluent can serve for the production of microalgal biomass and value-added biochemicals. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.