MICROALGAE BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND NITRATE REMOVAL FROM LANDFILL LEACHATE

Microalgae biomass production during high nitrate landfill leachate phycoremediation is a viable process with numerous of commercial potential including production of valuable resources for bio-chemicals, bio-fertilizers, animal feeds and bio-fuels. Excessive nitrate in the landfill leachate could be assimilated into algal biomass, instead of being discharged and possibly cause hazardous effect to environmental and health. In this study, the biomass production, nitrate removal and the composition of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid content of locally isolated microalgae strain of Oscillatoria sp., Chorella sp., and Scenedesmus sp., from phycoremediation of landfill leachate were analyzed to evaluate its potential application. The strains were cultivated in a diluted nitrified leachate with 500 mg/L of NO3- concentration. The results obtained showed that nitrate removal was feasible with up to 74% of NO3- removal by Oscillatoria sp. About 59% of protein (w/w), 26% of carbohydrate (w/w) and 20% of lipids were observed in Oscillatoria sp., Scenedesmus sp., and Chorella sp., respectively