Algae-Based Treatment Systems for Nutrients Removal From Industrial Effluents

Abstract

Industrial wastewater, whether treated or untreated, that exits a sewage treatment plant or is released from industrial facilities is generally referred to as industrial effluent. There are many types of industrial effluent like pharmaceutical wastewater, chemical wastewater, wastewater from textile, electronic industries. Based upon the type of industries, effluent may contain different types of nutrients like sulphur, phosphorous, nitrates. The nutrients can be recovered by various techniques like physical, mechanical chemical, biological. The biological methods have its own advantage like use of microorganism and it is most effective at low cost. Algae based treatment utilizes algae to remove excess nutrients from industrial effluent. It exhibits its application in the field of wastewater treatment plants, biofuels, nutritional supplement industries, agriculture, pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturing units. This chapter is aimed on industrial effluent and its treatment using various methods.