Microalgae-Based Remediation of Real Textile Wastewater: Assessing Pollutant Removal and Biomass Valorisation

Abstract

The textile industry generates highly contaminated wastewater. It severely threatens local ecosystems without proper treatment, significantly diminishing biodiversity near the discharge point. With rapid growth rates, microalgae offer an effective solution to mitigate the environmental impact of textile wastewater, and the generated biomass can be valorised. This study sets out to achieve two primary objectives: (i) to assess the removal of pollutants by Chlorella vulgaris from two distinct real textile wastewaters (without dilution) and (ii) to evaluate microalgal biomass composition for further valorisation (in a circular economy approach). Microalgae grew successfully with growth rates ranging from 0.234 ± 0.005 to 0.290 ± 0.003 d−1 and average productivities ranging from 78 ± 3 to 112.39 ± 0.07 mgDW L−1 d−1. All cultures demonstrated a significant reduction in nutrient concentrations for values below the legal limits for discharge, except for COD in effluent 2. Furthermore, the pigment concentration in the culture increased during textile effluent treatment, presenting a distinct advantage over conventional ones due to the economic value of produced biomass and pigments. This study underscores the promise of microalgae in textile wastewater treatment and provides valuable insights into their role in addressing the environmental challenges the textile industry poses.