Role of Bed Surface on the Growth Rate of Algae and Treatability Studies to Control Algae

摘要

Controlling the growth of algae is a major issue, wherever there is adequate light, moisture and simple nutrients sustain. The main objective of the current research was to carry out treatability studies to control the growth of algae using barley, rice and ragi straws and a comparison was made between straws by varying its dosages. This study revealed the fact that decomposing straw is effective in controlling the growth of algae. Barley straw at a dosage of 5 g/L was found to be more effective in controlling the growth of algae with 80% reduction in chlorophyll ‘a’ concentrations when compare with control tray, at an average temperature 290 C, light intensity of 562 μ mol-2s-1 photon flux and pH of 7.9. However, barley 2 g/L and rice 5 g/L were also found to control the growth of the algae. ANOVA results express barley 5 g/L was highly significant when compared with the control tray with 99% confidence level. Simulation of Kembalu water treatment plant was done to study the effect of bed surface on the growth of algae. Surface study gives an insight about role of surface on the growth rate of algae. In the present study it was observed that growth of Chlorophyace and Euglenophyceae were predominant on concrete surface compared Bacillariophyceae, however ceramic surface promoted the growth of Bacillariophyceae. Higher biomass of Cyanophyceae was found on brick surface.