TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimizing wastewater treatment
T2 - Algae-mediated calcite formation and carbon sequestration through bicarbonate control
AU - Idam, Everestus Itiri
AU - Qadeer, Abdul
AU - Oli, Ifeanyi Chidozie
AU - Fagorite, Victor Inumidun
AU - Baxter, Terry
AU - Grischek, Thomas
AU - Nwobi, Nelson Onyebuchi
AU - Onyeagoro, Robinson Uzochukwu
AU - Adama, Isaac Ojonogecha
AU - Abass, Gbemi Faith
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2024/8
Y1 - 2024/8
N2 - The growing emphasis on sustainability in environmental health, climate change, and water usability has driven the exploration of economically and environmentally friendly approaches to enhance wastewater quality. Algae-mediated natural precipitation of minerals in wastewater, driven by these organisms' carbon utilization in photosynthesis, has emerged as a promising wastewater treatment (WWT) method due to its sustainability and cost-efficiency benefits. This study examines the impact of varying carbon content in bicarbonate forms on algae activity in mediating CaCO3 precipitation and how pH in algae-mediated solutions influences calcite precipitation. Solutions with different Ca2+ and HCO3− concentrations were prepared, and algae growth curves were established to ensure solution suitability. The experiments, conducted in two sets, employed ANOVA and t-test analyses for samples with common calcium concentration. Results indicated that increasing HCO3- concentration positively correlates with algae mediation and CaCO3 precipitation, while elevating pH from 9.8 to 11.0 negatively correlates with calcite precipitation. In conclusion, HCO3− additions were effective in enhancing algae-mediated calcite precipitation in wastewater. Recommendations include ensuring proportionate HCO3− additions to calcium content to optimize mineral precipitation without detrimental effects on algae.
AB - The growing emphasis on sustainability in environmental health, climate change, and water usability has driven the exploration of economically and environmentally friendly approaches to enhance wastewater quality. Algae-mediated natural precipitation of minerals in wastewater, driven by these organisms' carbon utilization in photosynthesis, has emerged as a promising wastewater treatment (WWT) method due to its sustainability and cost-efficiency benefits. This study examines the impact of varying carbon content in bicarbonate forms on algae activity in mediating CaCO3 precipitation and how pH in algae-mediated solutions influences calcite precipitation. Solutions with different Ca2+ and HCO3− concentrations were prepared, and algae growth curves were established to ensure solution suitability. The experiments, conducted in two sets, employed ANOVA and t-test analyses for samples with common calcium concentration. Results indicated that increasing HCO3- concentration positively correlates with algae mediation and CaCO3 precipitation, while elevating pH from 9.8 to 11.0 negatively correlates with calcite precipitation. In conclusion, HCO3− additions were effective in enhancing algae-mediated calcite precipitation in wastewater. Recommendations include ensuring proportionate HCO3− additions to calcium content to optimize mineral precipitation without detrimental effects on algae.
KW - CO sequestration
KW - Calcite precipitation
KW - Environmental sustainability
KW - Wastewater treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85200117270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85200117270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.algal.2024.103631
DO - 10.1016/j.algal.2024.103631
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85200117270
SN - 2211-9264
VL - 82
JO - Algal Research
JF - Algal Research
M1 - 103631
ER -