ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Determining Indigenous Microalgae Species
in Malakand Water Bodies for Potential Use
as a Biofuel Production Source
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1
School of Resources, Environmental & Chemical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330000, China
2
Department of Botany, Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar 25100, KPK, Pakistan
3
Department of Botany, Islamia College Peshawar, 25100, Pakistan
4
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY 10027, United States of America.
5
Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.
6
College of Earth Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
7
Department of Biological Sciences King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
8
China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing China
9
School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, North Cuihu road,
Kunming, Yunnan, 650091, PR-China
Submission date: 2017-08-02
Final revision date: 2018-01-26
Acceptance date: 2018-01-30
Online publication date: 2018-07-20
Publication date: 2018-12-20
Corresponding author
Fida Hussain
nanchang university, school of resources environmental and chemical engineering Nanchang University, 12333 Nanchang, Christmas Island
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(2):669-679
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ABSTRACT
As a renewable energy source, microalgae have wide interest as a potential tool to produce biofuel and
bioproducts. Prevailing in the local habitat, indigenous microalgae are more successful for wastewater
treatment processes. Integrated microalgae-based biofuel and bioproduct production with wastewater
treatment is a successful practice of modern research. This report describes the isolation and identification
of 61 microalgal strains from lakes, springs, ponds, creeks, and rivers of the gigantic area of Malakand,
Pakistan. Our study involves the seasonal existence of Chlorophyta in the area, with most dominant
flora identified in the summer season followed by spring, autumn, and winter seasons, respectively.
The highest ratio of microalgae was found in stagnant waters followed by slow-running water and running
water, respectively. However, algal species were reported from all water bodies throughout the year.
Commercially important genera like Chlorella, Scenedesmus, and Chlamydomonas were also reported,
attracting the research area for further analysis regarding biofuel, bioproduct production, and simultaneous
wastewater treatment.