• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.82-92
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• 2020

Since swine wastewater contains high concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals, it deteriorates water quality when discharged. Compared to conventional methods, bioremediation can be a promising method for its treatment. Specifically, microalgae have the potential to remove these pollutants. In this study, the removal of nutrients (nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) and heavy metals (copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)) from swine wastewater by Ankistrodesmus bibraianus was evaluated and the organism's optimal growth conditions were investigated. The optimal growth conditions were established at 28℃, pH 7, and light and dark cycles of 14:10 h. The removal efficiencies of N and P by a single treatment (500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 mg L^-1) ranged from 22.9 to 80.6% and from 11.9 to 50.0%, respectively. The removal efficiencies of N and P in the binary treatments ranged from 16.4 to 58.3% and from 7.80 to 49.8%, respectively. The removal efficiencies of Cu and Zn by a single treatment(10, 30, and 50 mg L^-1) ranged from 15.5 to 81.5% and from 6.28 to 34.3%, respectively. Similarly, the removal efficiencies of Cu and Zn in the binary treatments ranged from 16.7 to 74.5% and from 5.58 to 27.5%, respectively. In addition, the study showed the optimal growth conditions for microalgae and the removal efficiency of nutrients (N and P) and heavy metals (Cu and Zn), which could be applied to swine wastewater. Based on the results in this study, it appears that Ankistrodesmus bibraianus could be used for the removal of nutrients and heavy metals present in swine wastewater.