TREATMENT OF RAW SEWAGE WASTEWATER IN A PILOT SCALE PLANT THROUGH A NOVEL METHOD USING MICROALGAE, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PRODUCED BIOMASS FOR FERTI-IRRIGATION: A QATARI CASESTUDY

Abstract

Global population is on the rise. Water scarcity and demand is at an all-time high. Yet anthropogenic activities keep increasing the amount of wastewater in the environment. While humans have developed wastewater treatment technologies, the conventional method has dire consequences. Its energy intensive nature and sludge production at the end of the treatment has meant that energy requirements and landfills are on the rise. This study aims to use different microalgae to treat preliminary pretreated raw municipal wastewater and use the resulting microalgae biomass and treated effluent for ferti-irrigation of tomatoes. Findings showed Scenedesmus sp. to be the most promising in terms of growth in wastewater (OD = 1.051), nutrient removal (75% - 92% removal efficiency) and plant growth enhancement, leading to the plants with the tallest height, most number of leaves and heavies fresh root biomass, dry root biomass and dry shoot biomass. Chlorella sp. also showed promising results, Nostoc sp. showed variation in performance and Leptolyngbya sp. did not show any signs of growth.