Biomass Production of Microalgae Using Wastewater: A Comparative Study Between Monocultures and Mixed Cultures

Al- Hamdany, Ahmad Khlel

doi:10.33899/rjs.2025.161029.1471

	Biomass Production of Microalgae Using Wastewater: A Comparative Study Between Monocultures and Mixed Cultures
Rafidain Journal of Science
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 05 August 2025
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.33899/rjs.2025.161029.1471
Author
Ahmad Khlel Al- Hamdany^*
Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
Abstract
Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the biomass growth of five types of microalgae—Acutodesmus obliquus, Chlorella sorokiniana, Fischerella muscicola, Crinalium magnum, and an algal mixture over a period of 15 days in polluted water. The study compared the performance of the algal mixture with that of individual species, and the results revealed that the algal mixture recorded the highest growth rate (1765 mg/L), indicating a synergistic effect among the different species. Acutodesmus obliquus ranked second with a growth rate of 834 mg/L, while Crinalium magnum recorded the lowest growth rate (246 mg/L). All species showed nearly linear growth during the treatment period. These results are consistent with previous studies confirming that using a mixture of algae enhances growth efficiency and productivity compared to individual species, which is attributed to the ability of some algae to utilize both organic and inorganic carbon sources. Although some other studies have indicated the superiority of certain species such as Scenedesmus obliquus, the current study emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate species and environmental conditions to achieve maximum productivity in wastewater treatment. These findings highlight the practical potential of microalgae in treating polluted water and producing renewable biomass.
Keywords
Keywords: Microalgal; Mixed algal; Biomass; Treatment Tanks; Wastewater

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