OPTIMIZING ALGAL BIOFUEL PRODUCTION IN WASTEWATER SYSTEMS: A STUDY ON NUTRIENT UPTAKE EFFICIENCY AND LIPID ACCUMULATION IN MICROALGAE FOR ENHANCED BIOFUEL YIELD.

The integration of biofuel production with wastewater treatment offers a sustainable solution to two critical environmental challenges: generation of energy and water treatment. This research seeks to increase the efficiency of using wastewater as the growth media for microalgae with the purpose of increasing biofuel production besides minimizing nutrient removal from the used wastewater. In particular, the investigation targets selection of microalgal strains with high nutrient assimilation rates and high lipid storage capacity, which are both important for the generation of biofuels. The efficiency of the microalgae cultivation system will be assessed based on the preference of different types of wastewaters such as domestic, agricultural and industrial effluents. These fundamental factors include nutrients, light intensity and medium pH which are likely to affect microalgal biomass growth rate and lipid accumulation. Sophisticated analytical processes will be used to measure nutrient removal efficiency and estimate increases in lipids content in microalgae. Besides, the research will consider methods of genetic modification and the biotechnological application of the selected microalgal strains for increasing their lipid productivity. Other benefits arising from co-production such as biofertilizers will also be considered due to the need to create value-added products that will be useful to other industries. It is believed that the results of this study will give an understanding of the possibility of utilizing wastewater as low-cost multifunctional, algal biofuel media for culturing and treatment of wastewaters. This research will look into the improvement of the efficiency of nutrient assimilation and lipid production that will increase the productivity and profitability as well as the reduction of the negative impact on the environment of algal biofuel production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]