Removal of Excessive Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Urban Wastewater Using Local Microalgal Bloom

The organic content from urban wastewater is treated with various conventional processes efficiently. However, for biological treatment of secondary effluent containing excessive inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, microalgae can be used. In this study, algal strains have been collected from locally available natural blooms and cultured in a BG-11 medium. Spirulina sp., the blue-green algae, dominant over the other species within the natural bloom, is applied in ten different dosages (0.2-2.5 g/L) to the synthetic wastewater with a 3-day hydraulic retention time. The removal efficiency of nitrate, ammonia, and phosphate have been observed to be about 60%, 30%, and 54% respectively. The highest removal efficiency has been found at 2.5 g/L of microalgae dose. Linear forms of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms have been used for biosorption modeling, and both isotherms fit well with R2>60% and NRMSE<11% in all cases. Additionally, the separation factor and the adsorption intensity represent the favorability of the biosorption process. Journal of Engineering Science 12(3), 2021, 19-27

Cyanobacteria: A Natural Source for Controlling Agricultural Plant Diseases Caused by Fungi and Oomycetes and Improving Plant Growth

Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are a group of prokaryotic microorganisms largely distributed in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. They produce a wide range of bioactive compounds that are mostly used in cosmetics, animal feed and human food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries, and the production of biofuels. Nowadays, the research concerning the use of cyanobacteria in agriculture has pointed out their potential as biofertilizers and as a source of bioactive compounds, such as phycobiliproteins, for plant pathogen control and as inducers of plant systemic resistance. The use of alternative products in place of synthetic ones for plant disease control is also encouraged by European Directive 2009/128/EC. The present up-to-date review gives an overall view of the recent results on the use of cyanobacteria for both their bioprotective effect against fungal and oomycete phytopathogens and their plant biostimulant properties. We highlight the need for considering several factors for a proper and sustainable management of agricultural crops, ranging from the mechanisms by which cyanobacteria reduce plant diseases and modulate plant resistance to the enhancement of plant growth.

Peculiarities of formation of water quality of surface sources of water supply as a factor of a choice of a method of water treatment

The current state and formation of water quality in reservoirs that serve as sources of drinking water supply were considered. It was revealed that phytoplankton becomes one of the main factors influencing the formation of water quality in reservoirs in the warm period from June to November, especially during the period of reservoirs “blooming”. Mostly these processes are triggered by the explosive development of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). The factors accompanying this phenomenon are shown. The characteristic of the influence of global climate change and new composition of wastewater on water quality in surface water supply sources is given. If earlier the sewage contained significant volumes of heavy metals, oil products, phenols, etc., now they are observed to decrease at several times and vice versa - an increase in the volume of biogenic compounds, especially phosphates is observed. The emergence of phosphates is caused both by the ingress of phosphate fertilizers into water bodies, and by household reasons - the massive distribution of phosphate-based detergents and the inability of existing sewage treatment plants to efficiently process them. Screening monitoring of the Dnieper river basin showed extremely high levels of the predicted safe concentration of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, as well as pharmaceutical substances such as carbomazepine, lopinavir, diclofenac, efavirenz, etc. in water. That is, among organic pollutants, the focus changes from classic petrochemical products to the products related to agricultural and pharmaceutical production, which, in certain concentrations, can stimulate the development of phytoplankton. The effective methods for treating surface water in modern conditions are as follows: - physical retention of coarse fractions of phytoplankton using new designs of water intake structures; - the use of new filter materials that effectively trap finely dispersed phytoplankton fractions at the main treatment facilities and are capable of regenerating the filter media; - the use of new oxidizing agents-disinfectants that do not form toxic organochlorine compounds, with preliminary extraction of phytoplankton masses;

Multivariate approach to determine the ecological preferences of phytoplankton in Uppanar estuary, southeast coast of India

In the present study, the phytoplankton diversity and distribution was studied in relation seasonal variation of environmental parameters in the Uppanar estuary. Samples were seasonally collected (i.e., pre-monsoon: July-2018 and summer: June-2019) from six stations. A total of 62 phytoplankton species belonging to three classes, 20 orders, 26 families and 36 genera were and among the three phytoplankton taxa, diatoms topped the list with 41 species followed by Dinoflagellates (17 species) and blue green algae (4 species). The maximum number of phytoplankton species (36) and diversity value (H’) 3.976 was recorded in the stations near river mouth (UE-6) during summer and minimum species number (21) and maximum species richness (d) 6.923 was recorded in stations close to industrialr zone (UE-1) during monsoon. The maximum species evenness (J') 0.928 was recorded at stations near river mouth (UE-6). BIO-ENV (Biota-Environmental matching) and CCA results confirmed that the environmental parameters such as Dissolved oxygen, Turbidity, Salinity, Water pH, Chlorophyll, Silicate, TN and TP as best match (ρω = 0.968) in determining phytoplankton distributions. The results of present study helps to develop an understanding on the phytoplankton distribution based on physico-chemical parameters, which will form a reliable tool in bio-monitoring studies.

Nutritional Evaluation and Biochemical Profiles of Microalgae as Potential Human Health Supplements

Food supplements industries, an important place must be assigned to nutraceuticals containing microalgae, nowadays accounting for a large and rapidly expanding market. The marketed products are mainly based on production strains, i.e., Spirulina and Chlorella in the composite situation, since two of them are cyanobacteria and the second one is eukaryotic. In the marketed form and several utilizations, and peculiarities that need special attention and adequate studies. General report is about the current scientific knowledge on each microalga, in particular the nutritional value and properties in prevention and wellbeing. Second, original studies are presented concerning the quality control of marketed products. Quality control is act as key argument in nutraceuticals validation. Microalgae one of particular organisms that need specific approaches to check identity and validate properties of microalgae. The paper is dedicated to the need for specificity in uses and to considerations about the future of microalgae in food supplements in our daily needs. India is a country with heterogenic population having diverse food habits become a driving force in the shift towards a greater recognition between diet and health care in research the use of few natural unprocessed foods like blue-green algae “spirulina” which has a galaxy of nutrients as diet supplements. The purpose of the present review is to compile evidence regarding the health benefits of spirulina, amount of evidence on health benefits are its effect in preventing anaemia, blood sugar and obesity many health diseases. Keywords: Microalgae, Nutraceuticals, Omega fatty acids, Phycocyanin, Spirulina: Blue-Green Algae.

PHARMACEUTICAL POTENTIAL OF LABORATORY GROWN CULTURES OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world researchers the urgent need for new sources and novel pharmaceuticals not only for existing diseases but also for both seasonal epidemics and future pandemics. Pharmaceutical drug discoveries for the past fifty years depended deeply on the procedure of empirical transmission of a huge number of pure bioactive compounds to provide new leads. The screening of extracts or isolating compounds is a common way to discover novel biologically active molecules. Most of the valuable Blue-Green algal metabolites are concentrated in their biomass. For existence in nature, Blue-Green algae (BGA) secrete and contain various organic substances like proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, pigments, primary and secondary metabolites, and these compounds are explored for potential biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral (including the anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19), anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, protease inhibitory activity, anti-inflammatory activity, etc. Due to their diverse application, pharmaceutical companies have shown commercial interest in the Blue-green algal group for the discovery and development of novel molecules to combat deadly diseases for the benefit of society and mankind. The current review paper highlights and discusses the diverse pharmaceutical potential of laboratory-grown cultures of BGA along with comprehensive and current knowledge on bioactive compounds discovered by researchers globally.