Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper


Vol.13, Issue 04, 2007

Page Number: 697-701

SCREENING OF FRESHWATER ALGAE FOR PHYCOREMEDIATION POTENTIALITIES OF [INDUSTRIED EFFLUENTS AND WASTE WATER

J. Kamaleswari, S. Murugesan and V. Sivasubramanian

Abstract

Phycoremediation is proving to be an efficient and cost effective method to remediate wastewater with high levels of contaminants and low levels of solids. In the present study different types of industrial effluents were collected from in and around Chennai. Their physico-chemical parameters were analysed.Algae collected from different freshwater sources were cultured in the Pachaiyappa's college algal culture laboratory and their pure cultures were maintained in different growth media. Algae belonging to Cyanophyta and Chlorophyta were inoculated to the effluents both individually and as a mixture. Some of the genera from both the divisions responded very well in certain effluents within a short period of time by increasing the pH and reducing the conductivity. Based on the results suitable algal species are recommended for treating various effluents.