Determination of suitable compatible microalgae for bioremediation of effluent from desalination facilities

Due to the lack of natural supply of clean water, the increasing population growth, the ever-increasing expansion of the discharge of industrial units and the pollution of surface and underground water sources, the use of salt water desalination systems and the sea water has increased, which despite the many benefits, and the environmental effects caused by the effluent of the desalination facilities create problems. Therefore, to overcome some of the mentioned problems, microalgae cultivation systems are able to increase the removal and removal of nutrients, especially nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, and organic materials from wastewater. This study were studied for bioremediation and to evaluate the removal efficiency of nitrate, phosphate, and total iron at zero middle and final times by Scenedesmus sp. and Arthrospira platensis microalgae grown in the effluent of desalination plants of Bandar-e-Turkmen unit, Iran with the concentrations rate (50 and 100%). The amount of nitrate, phosphate, and total iron in the effluent has decreased during the experiment. The highest percentage of removal efficiency and the slope of reduction (nitrate and phosphate) in 100% concentration of wastewater, respectively, during the (zero-middle and middle-end) times, 72.85%, 82.95%, respectively, related to Scenedesmus sp. It showed that Arthrospira platensis in 50% concentration of wastewater during the (middle-end) times has the highest phosphate removal efficiency of 78.59%. The highest percentage of total iron removal efficiency in Arthrospira platensis was observed during the middle-final times in the effluent of 100% concentration (100%). Microalgae Scenedesmus sp. showed a better performance than Arthrospira platensis in removing nitrate and phosphate in 100% wastewater concentration, while in 50% wastewater concentration, S. platensis showed a high efficiency in phosphate removal and removal of iron with S. platensis in 100% wastewater concentration. It showed great efficiency.