Enhanced Bioremediation of Palm Oil Industrial Emissions Using Chlorella Sp.: A Sustainable Approach for Air Quality Improvement and Biomass Valorization

Abstract

Industrial palm oil processing generates significant atmospheric emissions containing particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and gaseous pollutants that contribute to respiratory inflammation and oxidative stress in exposed populations. This study evaluated the ecological engineering potential of Chlorella sp. supplementation as a bioremediation strategy for mitigating palm oil emission-induced health impacts. Thirty-six adult male Rattus norvegicus were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: control (clean air), emission-exposed (palm oil industrial emissions for 6 hours daily), and emission+Chlorella (emissions with 200 mg/kg daily Chlorella sp. supplementation) over an 8-week period. Emission exposure significantly elevated inflammatory cytokines (IL-6: 47.2±3.8 vs. 22.1±4.2 pg/mL; TNF-α: 31.8±2.9 vs. 16.2±1.8 pg/mL; IL-1β: 26.3±2.1 vs. 13.7±1.9 pg/mL, p<0.001) and oxidative stress markers (MDA: 4.8±0.3 vs. 1.9±0.2 nmol/mL) compared to controls. Chlorella sp. supplementation demonstrated significant protective effects, attenuating inflammatory responses and enhancing antioxidant capacity through increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Principal component analysis revealed distinct clustering patterns, with PC1 explaining 75.2% and PC2 explaining 8.7% of total variance, demonstrating clear biochemical differentiation between treatment groups. Correlation analysis showed strong positive relationships among major air pollutants (PM2.5-VOC: r=0.98; PM2.5-CO: r=0.97; PM2.5-NO2: r=0.95) and moderate to strong correlations between pollutant exposure and inflammatory markers (TNF-α with exposure parameters: r=0.73-0.77). The microalgae supplementation effectively modulated the biochemical response to emission exposure, creating metabolic profiles intermediate between control and emission-only conditions. These findings demonstrate that Chlorella sp. functions as an effective ecological engineering tool for environmental health protection, offering a sustainable bioremediation approach for industrial emission mitigation. The study provides evidence for integrating microalgae-based interventions into comprehensive environmental management strategies for palm oil industrial areas. The dual benefits of Chlorella sp. as both a biological air quality improvement agent and a health protective supplement suggest promising applications for ecosystem-based adaptation strategies in industrial environments. This research contributes to the development of nature-based solutions for addressing industrial pollution impacts while supporting occupational and community health in palm oil production regions.