Fruit waste (FW) is a nutrient-rich but underutilized substrate with potential for sustainable microalgae cultivation. This study evaluated the effects of FW concentration (10–100%) and pretreatment on the growth, nutrient removal, and biomass composition of four Chlorella microalgal strains namely Chlorella vulgaris FSP-E, Chlorella vulgaris ESP-31, Chlorella sorokiniana CY1, and Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck. Pretreatment strategies, including acidification, autoclaving, and non-thermal approaches, were assessed for their ability to improve nutrient availability and biomass productivity. Results showed that moderate FW concentrations (10–50%) significantly enhanced biomass accumulation and nutrient removal, whereas excessive FW (≥75%) inhibited growth and delayed nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. C. vulgaris ESP-31 exhibited the highest biomass at 0.4626 g/L (50% FW), while COD, TN, and TP removal reached up to 99% under optimal conditions. Comparison with literature confirmed that FW-based media can produce comparable biomass productivity. These findings underscore the feasibility of using FW for microalgae-based biorefinery applications, enabling simultaneous waste valorization, nutrient recovery, and production of value-added compounds.
- Open Access
- Article
Effect of Pretreatment and Fruit Waste Medium Concentration on Biomass Concentration and Nutrient Removal of Chlorella sp. Microalgae
- Chayanat Sitthikasemkit 1,†,
- Adityas Agung Ramandani 1,†,
- John Chi-Wei Lan 2,
- Sirasit Srinuanpan 3,4,
- Kuan Shiong Khoo 1,*
Author Information
Received: 28 Jan 2026 | Revised: 07 May 2026 | Accepted: 12 May 2026 | Published: 04 Jun 2026
Abstract
Keywords
fruit waste | Chlorella sp. microalgae | biomass productivity | nutrient removal | pretreatment | biorefinery
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