Growing Scenedesmus Algae for Specialized Nutrient Remediation

Annelise Olsen

Mentor: Dr. Christopher Ward, Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University

Excess nutrients in water can be incredibly harmful to aquatic ecosystems. In the Chesapeake Bay, excess nitrogen, from agricultural wastewater, is a major cause of algae blooms. When algae blooms, it produces oxygen, but when it dies, the oxygen is removed from the water as the algae decomposes. Fish and other aquatic animals require dissolved oxygen in the water for survival. When the oxygen is removed from the water, it creates "dead zones" with little to no aquatic life. Algae creates dead zones, but it can also prevent them from occurring. In this experiment, we are measuring the growth of scenedesmus algae and its ability to remove nitrogen from simulated wastewater. We use three different fertilizer mixes with different levels of phosphorus, potassium, and nitrate to simulate various types of agricultural wastewater. The main goal of the study is to discover to what extent and how quickly scenedesmus algae removes nitrogen while in the presence of other nutrients. If we discover that the algae removes nitrogen much faster in water with higher concentrations of a specific nutrient, it allows us to specialize wastewater remediation treatment for the nutrient composition of the wastewater.