Microalgae strains isolated from piggery wastewater in Ecuador: Effective nitrogen compound removal and growth potential in extremophile conditions

Effluents generated by anthropogenic activities are a significant source of pollution and eutrophication in natural water bodies. In Ecuador, the increase in pig production has exacerbated this issue due to the untreated discharge of pig effluents. This study focused on the characterization of nativ...

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Main Authors: Karla Flores-Zambrano, Wilson Tapia, Pablo Castillejo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Biotechnology Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215017X25000104
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author Karla Flores-Zambrano
Wilson Tapia
Pablo Castillejo
author_facet Karla Flores-Zambrano
Wilson Tapia
Pablo Castillejo
author_sort Karla Flores-Zambrano
collection DOAJ
description Effluents generated by anthropogenic activities are a significant source of pollution and eutrophication in natural water bodies. In Ecuador, the increase in pig production has exacerbated this issue due to the untreated discharge of pig effluents. This study focused on the characterization of native microalgae present in pig effluents and the evaluation of their capacity to remove nitrogenous compounds under various conditions, with the aim of identifying efficient strains for phycoremediation. Four microalgal strains were isolated and molecularly identified as Radiococcus polycoccus, Chlorolobion braunii, Micractinium sp., and Desmodesmus multivariabilis. The cultures were exposed to initial concentrations of 100 mg L-1 N-NH₄ and 49.97 mg L-1 N-NO₃ for 12 days to assess their cellular growth and nutrient removal rates. Growth kinetics were analyzed under conditions of 2000 mg L-1 N-NH₄ and extreme pH levels of 3 and 10. Chlorolobion braunii demonstrated the highest productivity, achieving a removal of 67.73 % of N-NH₄ and 30.59 % of N-NO₃, and reached the highest cellular density under extreme ammonium conditions, being the only strain capable of growing at acidic pH. Conversely, Micractinium sp. exhibited the highest growth under alkaline conditions. These results highlight the promising potential of native microalgae from pig effluents for wastewater remediation and their adaptation to environmental conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-ececb5edfc0b4ed4bfc8e9ed200bbdf82025-08-20T02:17:08ZengElsevierBiotechnology Reports2215-017X2025-03-0145e0088310.1016/j.btre.2025.e00883Microalgae strains isolated from piggery wastewater in Ecuador: Effective nitrogen compound removal and growth potential in extremophile conditionsKarla Flores-Zambrano0Wilson Tapia1Pablo Castillejo2Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Salud (BIOMAS), Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Quito, Ecuador; Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de las Américas (UDLA), Quito, EcuadorCarrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de las Américas (UDLA), Quito, EcuadorGrupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Salud (BIOMAS), Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Quito, Ecuador; Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de las Américas (UDLA), Quito, Ecuador; Corresponding author.Effluents generated by anthropogenic activities are a significant source of pollution and eutrophication in natural water bodies. In Ecuador, the increase in pig production has exacerbated this issue due to the untreated discharge of pig effluents. This study focused on the characterization of native microalgae present in pig effluents and the evaluation of their capacity to remove nitrogenous compounds under various conditions, with the aim of identifying efficient strains for phycoremediation. Four microalgal strains were isolated and molecularly identified as Radiococcus polycoccus, Chlorolobion braunii, Micractinium sp., and Desmodesmus multivariabilis. The cultures were exposed to initial concentrations of 100 mg L-1 N-NH₄ and 49.97 mg L-1 N-NO₃ for 12 days to assess their cellular growth and nutrient removal rates. Growth kinetics were analyzed under conditions of 2000 mg L-1 N-NH₄ and extreme pH levels of 3 and 10. Chlorolobion braunii demonstrated the highest productivity, achieving a removal of 67.73 % of N-NH₄ and 30.59 % of N-NO₃, and reached the highest cellular density under extreme ammonium conditions, being the only strain capable of growing at acidic pH. Conversely, Micractinium sp. exhibited the highest growth under alkaline conditions. These results highlight the promising potential of native microalgae from pig effluents for wastewater remediation and their adaptation to environmental conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215017X25000104Microalgae barcodesPig effluentPhycoremediationExtremophile
spellingShingle Karla Flores-Zambrano
Wilson Tapia
Pablo Castillejo
Microalgae strains isolated from piggery wastewater in Ecuador: Effective nitrogen compound removal and growth potential in extremophile conditions
Biotechnology Reports
Microalgae barcodes
Pig effluent
Phycoremediation
Extremophile
title Microalgae strains isolated from piggery wastewater in Ecuador: Effective nitrogen compound removal and growth potential in extremophile conditions
title_full Microalgae strains isolated from piggery wastewater in Ecuador: Effective nitrogen compound removal and growth potential in extremophile conditions
title_fullStr Microalgae strains isolated from piggery wastewater in Ecuador: Effective nitrogen compound removal and growth potential in extremophile conditions
title_full_unstemmed Microalgae strains isolated from piggery wastewater in Ecuador: Effective nitrogen compound removal and growth potential in extremophile conditions
title_short Microalgae strains isolated from piggery wastewater in Ecuador: Effective nitrogen compound removal and growth potential in extremophile conditions
title_sort microalgae strains isolated from piggery wastewater in ecuador effective nitrogen compound removal and growth potential in extremophile conditions
topic Microalgae barcodes
Pig effluent
Phycoremediation
Extremophile
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215017X25000104
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