A research paper titled, “Advanced light-tolerant microalgae-nitrifying bacteria consortia for stable ammonia removal under strong light irradiation using light-shielding hydrogel,” written by a team of researchers led by Mr. Kento Nishi (Environmental Chemical Engineering), an Environmental Engineering for Symbiosis major in the doctor’s program at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, was published in an academic journal, “Chemosphere.”

This academic journal, listed in the Scopus database, ranks in the top 10% (CiteScore) in the field of environmental engineering and is highly recognized internationally. In this study, “light-shielding hydrogel,” which protects light-sensitive nitrifying bacteria from light, was developed to apply a nitrogen-containing wastewater treatment method that utilizes microalgae and nitrifying bacteria in developing countries with high sunlight intensity (sunbelt areas). Then the hydrogel was used to assess the light resistance of “microalgae–nitrifying bacteria consortia” and water treatment performance. Through this study, the researchers established a low-cost wastewater treatment method with high treatment capability that is applicable to areas with high sunlight intensity.

This paper is an achievement Mr. Nishi made through a series of research he has been conducting since 2021 under the program offered by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, “Research Fellowships for Young Scientists.”

Mr. Nishi said, “In writing this paper, I was given advice and help from many people, including Professor Ida, my coauthor, and Lecturer Akizuki. I deeply appreciate everyone involved. It is my intention to continue to pursue my research further to deliver outstanding results.