Abstract:
Since the non-ionic ammonia and ionic ammonia can be converted into each other, in aquaculture, ammonia nitrogen (NH
4+-N) and nitrite nitrogen (NO
2−-N) are the key factors that affect the growth and development of aquatic animals. Therefore, the removal of NH
4+-N and NO
2−-N in aquaculture water is of great significance to ensure the health of aquaculture animals. As we all know, microorganisms and algae play important roles in maintaining the ecological balance of aquaculture ponds. It has been proved that
Chlorella had the ability of purifying aquaculture water, with different
Chlorella species different removal efficiency on NH
4+-N and NO
2−-N.
Chlorella vulgaris is widely used in aquaculture, however, we know little about the removal effect on nitrogen nutrient especially NO
2−-N by
C. vulgaris. Given the shortage of effective ecological control measures in aquaculture, it is of great significance to illustrate the removal effect of NH
4+- N and NO
2−-N by
C. vulgaris and related influencing factors. Aiming to evaluate the application prospect of
C. vulgaris in purifying NH
4+-N and NO
2−-N in water, in the present study,
C. vulgaris was taken as the research object and feed wastewater was taken as the culture medium. We firstly detected the cell density of
C. vulgaris and the temporal variations of NH
4+-N and NO
2−-N in water under aeration, light, combined light and aeration conditions. Then we analyzed the effects of time (
X1), light intensity (
X2) or initial
C. vulgaris density (
X3) on the removal rates of NH
4+-N and NO
2−-N (
Y). Finally, we evaluated the removal efficiency of NH
4+-N, NO
2−-N and NO
3−-N from water by
C. vulgaris, and we analyzed the potential pathway of NO
2−-N assimilation by
C. vulgaris. The results showed that
C. vulgaris could remove NH
4+-N, NO
2−-N and NO
3−-N significantly under suitable light conditions. The NH
4+- N removal rate reached up to at 18 000 lx (96.23%), and NO
2−-N removal rate reached up to 99.19% at 9 000 lx. The initial density of
C. vulgaris at 2.5×10
5 cells/mL had the highest removal rates for NH
4+-N and NO
2−-N, accounting 94.92% and 99.05%, respectively. The regression equation of NH
4+-N and NO
2−-N removal rates with treatment time and light intensity was as follows:
YNH4+-N=1.189
X1+5.79×10
−4X2+24.158 (
R2=0.664),
YNO2−-N=1.562
X1+1.909×10
−3X2−26.078 (
R2=0.762). The regression equation of NH
4+-N and NO
2−-N removal rates with treatment time and initial
C. vulgaris density was as follows:
YNH4+-N =0.888
X1+1.02×10
−5X3+32.555 (
R2=0.408),
YNO2−-N =1.746
X1+1.64×10
−5X3−17.250 (
R2=0.613). The order of nitrogen removal by
C. vulgaris was NH
4+-N>NO
3−-N>NO
2−-N, and the activity of nitrite reductase in
C. vulgaris at NH
4+-N decline stage was significantly lower than that at NO
2−-N decline stage. In conclusion,
C. vulgaris can significantly reduce the contents of NH
4+-N and NO
2−-N in water, and NO
2−-N may be reduced to NH
4+-N by intracellular nitrite reductase and assimilated by
C. vulgaris. These results provide scientific basis for in-situ bioremediation of aquaculture waters.