The Optimization of Domestic Wastewater Dilution, Seed Volume, and Fertilizer Supplementation for Micractinium sp. Cultivation Using Response Surface Methodology
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Abstract
Rapid urbanization has led to a growing domestic wastewater problem, posing environmental and public health risks. Conventional wastewater treatment remains inadequate, leading to issues such as eutrophication and secondary pollution. This study explores an alternative wastewater recycling method that utilizes domestic wastewater as a medium for cultivating Micractinium sp. and supplements it with a commercially available Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) fertilizer (13:13:21) as a novel nutrient source to enhance microalgae growth. The cultivation is carried out in an indoor system (25 ± 1 °C, 140 µmol m−2 s−1, 24:0 photoperiod, and continuous aeration) to determine the cultivation ratio (wastewater dilution: seed volume: nutrient concentration). Growth was monitored using optical and cell density parameters throughout the cultivation period (21 days) for each element of the ratio. After optimization using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) software, the ideal values of wastewater dilution, seed volume, and stimulant volume was 50%, 50 mL, and 110 mL, with the maximum growth (470nm), biomass (680nm), and cell density achieved were 6.57, 6.42, and 7.14 x 107 cells/mL, respectively. Therefore, the outcomes ratios per liter are 0.68 for diluted wastewater (domestic wastewater and filtered water), 0.10 for seed volume, and 0.22 for NPK concentration. These results highlight the potential of domestic wastewater as a medium for the growth of Micractinium sp., thereby supporting efforts to recycle wastewater to reduce environmental problems.
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