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ALGECO algae strains


Algae strains Stigeoclonium sp. (K-0018) is shown on the left and Oedogonium vaucheri (k-0094) is shown on the right (Source: Bushra Muzamil).


The two algae strains used in the ALGECO project, Stigeoclonium sp. (K-0018) and Oedogonium vaucheri (k-0094), were provided by the Norwegian culture collection (NORCCA). The strains were isolated in 1992 and 1954, respectively, by Christensen T. from Denmark. Both freshwater strains were initially part of the Scandinavian Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (SCCAP) and deposited to NORCCA in 2017 when these two culture collections merged.


Both Stigeoclonium sp. and O. vaucheri are freshwater filamentous green algae. They utilize nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) from the environment for their growth. In the ALGECO project we use this ability of these algae strains to treat effluent wastewater from Norway’s largest wastewater treatment plant Veas in a process known as phytoremediation, which then improves the effluent water quality further and contribute in preventing eutrophication in the aquatic environment. In addition, such algae have also been shown to absorb heavy metals leading to further improvements in the water quality of the final effluent.


Stigeoclonium sp. and Oedogonium vaucheri can grow efficiently and adapt to variable conditions i.e. varying nutrient concentrations, pH levels, and temperature. This makes them ideal candidates for wastewater treatment. Also, these algae have the potential to provide large biomass production that can further be used as raw material in the production of e.g. biofuels, aquaculture feed and fertilizer.


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