Application of Microbial Consortium to the Pilot-Scale Treatment of Primary Treated Sewage Wastewater

Huge discharge of different organic and inorganic waste compounds into water sources is the prime reason for water pollution. To protect the environment, appropriate biological treatment methods of wastewater with high removal efficacy are needed. To meet this end, indigenously available microbial consortiums were explored for their possible bioremediation efficiency. Cyanobacteria purified from microbial consortium was identified as Desertifilum sp. based on 16 s rRNA gene sequencing, and its biochemical characteristics were determined. High-rate algal pond (HRAP) of 6 m³ volume with dimensions of 3 m × 2 m × 1 m was inoculated @ 0.25% and operated in an open environment at a light intensity of 38,000 to 62,000 lx with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12 days. Results obtained after 12 days showed removal efficiencies of 78.26, 76, 79.55, 4.77, and 58.74% for soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD), total chemical oxygen demand (tCOD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrates, and total phosphorus, respectively. The results from the study inferred that Desertifilum sp. is a suitable candidate for secondary-stage wastewater treatment without any additional amendment. Moreover, the biochemical composition of the biomass obtained unraveled its potential application in the field of nutraceuticals.