You have no items in your shopping cart.
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to assess the effect of laundry waste water effluents on the growth of two micro algae (Chlorella vulgaris and Euglena viridis). The test algae were grown in different treatments (0%, 5%, 10%,25%,50%,75%, and 100%), which were set up in triplicates and monitored at two days intervals for 14 days. The algal growth responses were determined optically using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 750nm. Samples were analyzed for physiochemical parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids, and conductivity. The results for the growth response showed that different concentrations of laundry wastewater spurred the growth of Chlorella vulgaris with 100% treatment having the highest growth. Similarly higher concentrations (100% and 75%) resulted in higher growth for Euglena viridis. Percentage inhibition results showed inhibitory response for Chlorella vulgaris in all concentrations except 100% concentration while Euglena viridis was stimulated across all concentrations. The yield for Chlorella vulgaris fluctuated across different concentrations, with increase between days 2 and 4 and decrease by day 14. Euglena viridis, on the other hand showed increase in yield between days 2 and 4, and a decline between days 6 and 14. Physicochemical parameters shows that pH remained the same from (0% -100%) for Euglena viridis and decreased from 10.18 (0%) - 6.96 (100%) for Chlorella vulgaris, while total dissolved solids and conductivity increased from 209 mg/L (0% control) to 314 mg/L (100%) and 421µS/cm – 629µS/cm respectively for Chlorella vulgaris and 221 mg/L (0% control) to 432 mg/L and 433 µS/cm, – 864 µS/cm, (100%) respectively for Euglena viridis . According to the overall results of this research, it can be observed that increased concentrations of laundry wastewater support the development of the microalgae and can trigger eutrophication in waterbodies if discharged indiscriminately.
