Isolation of a freshwater microalgae and its application for the treatment of wastewater and obtaining fatty acids from tilapia cultivation

In the present study, isolated strains of the microalgae Chlamydomonas sp. (CH) and Chlorella vulgaris (CV) were used to treat aquaculture wastewater and to obtain fatty acids and from a fattening culture of tilapia. The microalgae were cultivated for 11 days in tubular photobioreactors with an operating volume of 2 L, constant aeration and illumination. High removal rates of NO3- and PO43- were achieved for both Chlamydomonas sp. (84.7% and 96%, respectively) and Chlorella vulgaris (94.6 and 97.9%, respectively). The maximum biomass productivity achieved by Chlamydomonas sp. was 0.06 and 0.10 gL(-1)d(-1) for Chlorella vulgaris. Therefore, tilapia wastewater contained the necessary nutrient concentration for algal growth and development. Chlamydomonas sp. biomass lipid content was 69%, while that of Chlorella vulgaris was 40%. The lipid profile of both microalgae was abundant in palmitic acid (78% for Chlamydomonas sp. and 35% for Chlorella vulgaris). This fatty acid is suitable for biodiesel production. Tilapia wastewater is low-cost alternative culture medium as it contains the necessary nutrient concentration for microalgae development and growth.