MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
The Gauge magazine is a main stage available for undergraduates of the Faculty of Engineering
to publish articles to showcase their talents and also is a platform to publicize the achievements of the
faculty. Further, the Gauge magazine includes articles on research work, Faculty news and interviews
with lecturers to expose the Faculty resources to the world. So I am pleased to see the new volume of the
“Gauge” is published early this year too. The content of this Gauge volume itself shows the invaluable
support rendered over the years to the faculty by this “Gauge” team led by students of the Faculty of
Engineering.
As I used to say, this magazine is an opportunity as well as a productive technical material and
subsidiary skill developing tool for the students of this Faculty. Also, it is a vital path to improving our
visibility among the industry and the society by highlighting and promoting the activities and achievements
of the Faculty. Therefore, as the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, I am grateful to the Gauge
team for continuously serving the Faculty in this important role.
Finally, I take this opportunity to wish the Gauge team great success in all their future activities.
I also congratulate the coordination and efforts behind the team for bringing this issue in time this year
too. I wish the Magazine all success. .
PROF. G.B.B. Herath,
Dean, Faculty of Engineering,
University of Peradeniya.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• Prof. Upul B. Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor of University of Peradeniya for his support and
encouragement.
• Prof. G.B.B. Herath , Dean, Faculty of Engineering and the patron of Engineering Students’
Publication Society (ESPS) for his advice and support.
• Dr. Manjula Sandirigama, Senior Treasurer and staff advisor of ESPS for his commitment and
support throughout this venture.
• English Language Training Unit (ELTU) for support given in proof reading.
• All the academic and non-academic staff members of the Faculty of Engineering.
• All the undergraduates who supported this venture in numerous ways.
“COVER STORY”
The use of microalgae
in wastewater treatment
is a promising
technology due to
high rates of growth,
CO 2
sequestration and
nutrient removal. In
this context, wastewater
can be treated at low
cost and also harvested
microalgae can be
used in various other
applications.
This study investigates
the growth of
microalgae and the
removal of Total
Petroleum Hydrocarbon
(TPH) content in
petroleum crude oil
contaminated wastewater.
Today, many urban water bodies have been
polluted with petroleum products due to
urban runoff. So, algae which naturally grow in
those water bodies may have been adapted to
petrochemicals.
Chlorella, Scenedesmus and Mougeotia species,
which were isolated from the urban water bodies
were used to test this hypothesis. The algae were
cultivated in synthetic crude oil contaminated
wastewater under natural conditions except for
the light.
The results indicate that Chlorella has more
potential to grow in crude oil contaminated
wastewater than Scenedesmus and Mougeotia.
Scenedesmus and Mougeotia showed removal
rates of 5.94 mg / L per day and 4.03 mg / L per
day respectively during the experimental time of
2 weeks. Chlorella has showed the highest TPH
removal with an average TPH removal of 8.80
mg / L per day with a
60% removal efficiency
which is almost equal
to the current industrial
removal efficiency in
wastewater treatment
plants of petroleum
refineries with high cost
methods.
Currently, the
research is being
continued in phase II
for the identification
of the optimum
growth conditions
of Chlorella species
which will be used in
the photobioreactor
system for petroleum
wastewater treatment.
GAUGE Magazine
University of Peradeniya
Page
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