Development of microalgae culture in biologically treated poultry slaughterhouse wastewater for production of biodiesel

In this study, it was aimed to develop Chlorella vulgaris microalgae culture for biodiesel production in poultry slaughterhouse biological treatment water. In order to destroy harmful organisms in the wastewater used, pH shock and alkaline pH methods were applied to the growth medium. The effect of light intensity on microalgae growth and advanced treatment of used wastewater was investigated in samples with optimum results. To monitor microalgae growth, biomass and chlorophyll-a concentrations were measured depending on time. The suitability of the microalgae biomass obtained for biodiesel production was interpreted according to total lipid amounts, lipid ratios in dry biomass, and fatty acid methyl ester contents. Biomass and lipid amounts were measured gravimetrically. Chlorophyll-a, nitrate, ammonium and phosphate amounts were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Biodiesel was obtained from lipids by the transesterification process. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) types and composition of biodiesel were determined by GC-MS. According to the findings obtained in the study, the most suitable lipid, fatty acid methyl ester types and content were obtained in poultry slaughterhouse wastewater at C5.2 pH shock conditions and 100 μmolphoton/m2s light intensity. In the C5.2 sample, 20% of the dry biomass was calculated as total lipid. The biodiesel obtained from the C5,2 contains C16:0, C18:0, C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acid methyl esters types. According to the results obtained, removal efficiencies of up to 100% were obtained with Chlorella vulgaris at 100 and 140 μmolphoton/m2s light intensities from wastewater at ammonium and phosphate concentrations. In order to increase the lipid amount, with the addition of TiO2<25 nm particles, one of the nanoparticles added to the nutrient medium to create stress, there was a 12 mg lipid increase in the lipid amount and 0.5% increase compared to the control sample.