HIGH-RATE ALGAL OXIDATION PONDING FOR THE TREATMENT OF TANNERY EFFLUENTS

The growth of Spirulina sp has been observed in tannery effluent stabi lization ponds. The development of a Spirulina-based High Rate Oxidati on Pond was undertaken and both substantial remediation and odour redu ction were achieved. Accumulating alkalinity associated with algal gro wth in the pond cascade was successfully used to reduce the ammonia to xicity effects on Spirulina productivity. Evaluation of the feed value of harvested biomass was undertaken in Artemia salina, chickens, abal one and rainbow trout. A Spirulina-based High Rate Algal Oxidation Pen ding process has been shown to present a potential opportunity factor in the form of value-added biomass providing a novel dimension to the treatment of tannery effluents. Copyright (C) 1996 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd