Removal of Heavy Metals from Petroleum Industry Wastewater Using Indigenous Microalgae <i>Scenedesmus </i>sp

Abstract

Petroleum industry effluents contain hazardous compounds such as heavy metals, which can damage the environment and human health. In this work, petroleum wastewater used as a medium to culture marine algae Scenedesmus sp. with the aim of removing maximum heavy metals. The efficiency of Scenedesmus sp. were examined in laboratory scale for elimination of COD, BOD and total petroleum heavy metals. The marine algae were monitored in pure petroleum wastewater as well as 25%, 50% and 75% diluted wastewater samples which conducted for 15 days. At the condition of 27 ± 2 °C, Scenedesmus sp. removed 35 – 96% of chromium (IV), cadmium (II) and copper (II). Among them chromium (IV) was significantly removed by Scenedesmus sp. Hence, phytoremediation using Scenedesmus sp. is seen as one of the best options to remove heavy metals from petroleum wastewater. Keywords: Microalgae, Scenedesmus sp., heavy metals, wastewater, biomass