I am working on microalgae cultivation using waste water. The initial concentration of nutrients were less but the microalgae has achieved biomass growth of 2 g/L. The final concentration of nutrients remains unchanged. What might be the possible reason?
The initial concentration of nutrients was less than at the end of the experiment? If yes, then you might have a problem with the analytical techniques. Even when microalgae can grow mostly with light as the sole energy source, they need inorganic nutrients.
It would be necessary more detail on your experiment set up to be able to answer more clearly, but in general, I recommend you verify your analytical techniques. In wastewaters there are many interferences than can be masking your results.
The microalgae might be efficiently using or internally recycling nutrients, leading to biomass growth.
There could be an additional nutrient source from the breakdown of organic matter in the wastewater by microorganisms.
Growth might be limited by factors other than nutrients, such as light, carbon dioxide, or another growth factor.
There might be a measurement error in detecting nutrient concentrations, leading to undetected small changes in nutrient levels.
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