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Abstract

Abstract Industrial wastewater is a worldwide environmental issue. Various organic pollutants and heavy metals are present at extreme concentrations. The biomass of algae is used for wastewater treatment and it can significantly remove contaminants from wastewater. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of microalgae to treat industrial wastewater. Physicochemical parameters were assessed in wastewater collected from the industrial state of Hayatabad, Peshawar. Out of 25 Microalgal strains, (Chlorella ellipsoidea, Oscillatoria curviceps, Oscillatoria rubescens, Oscillatoria tenuis, Spirogyra collinsii, Spirogyra crassa, Closterium strigosum, Closterium pritchardianum, and Closterium lunula) successfully flourished on BG-11 media, further cultured in autoclaved and unautoclaved industrial wastewater. Biomass was assessed through TVSS. C. ellipsoidea, S. crassa, and O. curvieps showed the highest growth rate, (0.89±0.03) per day in unautoclaved industrial wastewater. Conversely, C. strigosum showed the lowest growth rate at 0.79±0.05 per day. In the control, C. ellipsoidea showed the highest growth rate (0.89±0.05 per day) while C. pritchardianum showed the lowest growth rate at (0.60±0.07) per day. Biomass productivity of C. ellipsoidea, S. crassa, and O. curviceps was recorded (1.83±0.05 g/L/day) While O. rubescens and C. strigosum produced less biomass per day (1.66±0.1 g/L). C. ellipsoidea kept its top spot in control, producing (1.83±0.05 biomass g/L/day). C. pritchardianum showed the lowest productivity of (1.36±0.08 g/L/day). The nutrient removal efficacy of C. ellipsoidea demonstrated high removal rates for COD (90.16%), ammonia (67.26%), and nitrate (94.93%). Moreover, O. curviceps was highly effective in sulfate and lead removal. The study reveals that C. ellipsoidea and O. curviceps are effective for bioremediation, showing high biomass productivity and nutrient removal in industrial wastewater. Keywords: Wastewater, Microalgae, Phycoremediation, Industrial estates, Hayatabad, Peshawar.

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