Phycoremediation in Anaerobically Digested Palm Oil Mill Effluent Using Cyanobacterium, Spirulina platensis

Applying the zero-waste concepts whereby an anaerobic digested Palm Oil Mill Effluent was used as the medium for the cultivation of cyanobacterium, Spirulina platensis. Effluent was obtained from Sime Darby East Oil Mill, Carey Island, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. The experiments were performed on the orbital shaker (100 rpm) at 28 +/- 1 degrees C in thermostatically controlled room, illuminated with cool fluorescent lamps at irradiance of 30 mu Em(-2) s(-1), under 12 h/12 h light/dark photo period for 20 days. From this study, Spirulina platensis able to reduced 90% of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) level from initial concentration. The microalgae growth in POME was analyzed by dry weight of algae biomass method. Ammoniacal-Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus removal efficiency was 87% and 80% with specific growth rates 0.1027 g.L-1.day(-1). Existence of metabolites, heavy metal and trace elements were analyzed as well.