Optimization of poultry processing wastewater treatment by Chlorella vulgaris

Syamimi Afiqah, Abdul Ghani (2026) Optimization of poultry processing wastewater treatment by Chlorella vulgaris. Master dissertation/thesis, UTAR.

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Abstract

Poultry processing wastewater that rich with organic carbon source and nutrients is largely produced by poultry processing industry. The application of microalgae methods for poultry processing wastewater treatment offers a more sustainable solution, as the nutrients in the wastewater are assimilated by the microalgae during treatment, leading to nutrient recovery and the production of lipid by-products, contributing to sustainable development goals. This research investigates the use of C. vulgaris microalgae for the treatment of poultry processing wastewater under mixotrophic conditions. The study aims to optimize the factor of photoperiod and inoculum size toward the duration of wastewater treatment by C. vulgaris. Moreover, the acclimation strategy, different light sources (LED vs. natural sunlight), and harvesting methods were being investigated to confirm the feasibility of microalgae method for wastewater treatment in real application and also for lipid production. The methods involved cultivating C. vulgaris in poultry wastewater and assessing its ability to remove key pollutants, such as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrate, nitrites, and orthophosphate. The optimal conditions for poultry wastewater treatment were achieved under 12 hours of photoperiod and at 0.13 g/L inoculum size. The microalgae-based method is feasible for practical application when combined with acclimation strategies, the use of LED grow lights, and the chitosan flocculation method for microalgae harvesting. This research concludes that C. vulgaris is an effective and sustainable solution for poultry wastewater treatment and lipid by-product production. The findings demonstrate that the potential of microalgae systems for large-scale applications in wastewater management and bioenergy production, offering an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional treatment method.

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