Metal Removal in Wastewater

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study Copper removal capacity of different algae species and their mixtures from the municipal wastewater. This project was implemented in the greenhouse in the laboratories of Tampere University of Applied Sciences and the wastewater used was the one from the Tampere municipal wastewater treatment plant. Five algae species and three mixtures of them were tested for their Copper removal potential in wastewater in one batch test run. The most efficient algae mixture was tested in semi continuous ATS run, the mixture of Selenastrum Capricornutum, Pediastrum Simplex, Scenedesmus Spiriluna, Haematococcus respectively. The ATS system reduced Copper concentration with a 50-55% in this study. Copper concentration decreased in the first week of the ATS experiment, but increased after that. Wastewater addition caused algae to grow again and Copper concentration decreased as a consequence of algal growth. Algal growth and the most efficient Cu removal took place within two days from the addition of wastewater. These results suggest that in the ATS it is necessary to add new wastewater in spans of 2-3 days to provide algae the necessary nutrients and to assure efficient Cu removal.