Initiative Title:

"Green Transformation Through Microalgae: A Pioneering Initiative for Sustainable Bio-based Water Treatment at the University of Basrah"

Initiative Description:

As part of the College of Agriculture's commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, an innovative research initiative has been launched to treat organic pollutants in water using microalgae within an integrated aquatic ecosystem. This initiative addresses the use of phytoplankton (algae), known for their high biological efficiency, through the design of an advanced laboratory system and its field application on campus, reflecting the integration of scientific research with practical environmental solutions.

The research initiative will run in the laboratory from September 2024 to November 2024, and in the field from December 2024 to February 2025. The research team consists of Master's student Zahraa Jubran Abdal Hassan and Dr. Adel K. Jassim. The results demonstrated the algae's ability to remove phosphates by 82%, nitrates by 75%, and ammonium by 90%, in addition to reducing biological oxygen demand (BOD₅), enhancing the potential for this technology to treat nutrient-rich wastewater in an environmentally friendly and low-cost manner.

The study relied on biological and environmental indicators to monitor system performance, including pH, turbidity, salinity, and temperature. This provided a more accurate understanding of algae behavior under various conditions and their efficiency in water treatment in real time.

This initiative represents a model for university environmental innovation, linking academic research with practical application in a real-world setting. This initiative strengthens the role of universities in providing effective green solutions for society and the environment, and opens up broad prospects for collaboration with municipalities and environmental institutions at the national and regional levels.