Effect of operating parameters on nutrient removal by C.Vulgaris in continuously operated photobioreactor system

Nitrogen and phosphorus removal from synthetic wastewater by C. vulgaris was investigated in this thesis. The study has two parts as fed-batch flask experiments and continuously operated immobilized photobioreactor system. The experiments were conducted at neutral pH and at room temperature with artificial illumination. Effects of initial ammonia nitrogen concentrations and N/P ratio on nitrogen and phosphorus removal were evaluated in the fed-batch experiments. The results indicated that the maximum removal efficiency was obtained with minimum ammonia nitrogen concentration and N/P ratio. The photobioreactor system was continuously operated at different nitrogen/phosphorus ratio and light intensity. The optimum conditions for maximum NH4-N removal were determined as minimum light intensity and minimum N/P ratio. Keywords: Microalga, Chlorella vulgaris, nutrient removal, nitrogen, phosphorus, wastewater treatment.