Creating Renewable Energy through the Pairing of Wastewater Remediation and Biofuel Production with Two Species of Microalgae

<p>In this study, two species of microalgae, <em>Scenedesmus</em> sp. isolated locally and <em>Chlorella sorokiniana</em> (UTEX 1230) were grown in municipal wastewater collected from Stennis Space Center, MS in order to assess whether or not the microalgae could remediate the wastewater into a clean and usable form while also producing the biomaterials necessary for fuel and other useful byproducts. Each species was cultured in 16 ˚C and 30 ˚C to assess functional variabilities at different times of the year. The microalgae’s ability to decrease nutrient concentrations in the wastewater and produce lipids and protein was assessed at three different growth stages: log, stationary, and extended stationary phase. The two species were able to significantly decrease particulate organic nitrogen and phosphate concentrations in the wastewater medium while also producing lipid and protein. <em>Scenedesmus </em>sp. was able to produce higher lipid, protein and biomass suggesting that this species is a better candidate for wastewater remediation and biofuel production in the area of interest. However, <em>C. sorokiniana</em> also showed promising results, and the findings suggest that both species are good candidates for wastewater remediation and biofuel production in south Mississippi.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Marine Science

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Brown, Laura

Contributors dc:contributor

• Donald G. Redalje
• Scott Milroy
• Kevin Dillon

• biofuel
• wastewater
• microalgae
• Scenedesmus
• Chlorella sorokiniana
• Marine Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/372

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:aquila.usm.edu:masters_theses-1421