Food waste product and algae (chlorella sorokiniana) growth: an experimental research / by Nico B. Galaraga, Izak Daniel J. Realina, & Luril Celine Angela D. Almelia.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been a significant problem in the Philippines since 1983. The several occurrences of these blooms have caused the detrimental damage towards the functioning of the country's fisheries, the health of its citizens, and the state of its economy. In order to combat this alarming issue, it is essential to look for ways to minimize the proliferation of algae in bodies of water, hence why the researchers conducted the study. The research aims to find out whether food out whether food waste has a significant effect on the growth of algae Chlorella sorokinian (C. sorikiniana), in the hopes of establishing it as one of the factors contributing to the HABs, by culturing algae utilizing a food waste-based growth medium in different concentrations and comparing it with cultures utilizing Conway, a growth medium used commercially. The concentrations of the experimental group are 5%, 10%, and 20%, food waste. The researchers measured the growth rate of the algae daily for 10 days, utilizing a haemocytometer with a compound microscope to quantify the cell count of the samples in cells/mL. The study found no significant difference in the growth rate of the algae among the experimental groups, however, this indicates that food waste has the potential to serve as a source of nutrition for algae similar to that of Conway growth medium. The T2 and T2 groups with 5% and 10% food waste concentration resulted in algae growth rates that were close or equal to the growth observed in the control group. The T4 group was not able to produce more algae due to the presence of solid particles and bacterial growth. This shows that food waste is a viable cause for harmful algal blooms as long as the conditions of the environment does not harm the algae.

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