Tânia Vasconcelos Fernandes1, Rabin Shrestha1, Yixing Sui1, Gustavo Papini1, Grietje Zeeman2, Louise E M Vet3, Rene H Wijffels4,5, Packo Lamers4. 1. Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) , P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands. 2. Sub-department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) , P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands. 4. Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. 5. University of Nordland , Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, N-8049, Bodø, Norway.
Abstract
This study demonstrates that microalgae can effectively recover all P and N from anaerobically treated black water (toilet wastewater). Thus, enabling the removal of nutrients from the black water and the generation of a valuable algae product in one step. Screening experiments with green microalgae and cyanobacteria showed that all tested green microalgae species successfully grew on anaerobically treated black water. In a subsequent controlled experiment in flat-panel photobioreactors, Chlorella sorokiniana was able to remove 100% of the phosphorus and nitrogen from the medium. Phosphorus was depleted within 4 days while nitrogen took 12 days to reach depletion. The phosphorus and nitrogen removal rates during the initial linear growth phase were 17 and 122 mg·L(-1)·d(-1), respectively. After this initial phase, the phosphorus was depleted. The nitrogen removal rate continued to decrease in the second phase, resulting in an overall removal rate of 80 mg·L(-1)·d(-1). The biomass concentration at the end of the experiment was 11.5 g·L(-1), with a P content of approximately 1% and a N content of 7.6%. This high algal biomass concentration, together with a relatively short P recovery time, is a promising finding for future post-treatment of black water while gaining valuable algal biomass for further application.
This study demonstrates that microalgae can effectively recover all n>an class="Chemical">P and N from anaerobically treated black water (toilet wastewater). Thus, enabling the removal of nutrients from the black water and the generation of a valuable algae product in one step. Screening experiments with green microalgae and cyanobacteria showed that all tested green microalgae species successfully grew on anaerobically treated black water. In a subsequent controlled experiment in flat-panel photobioreactors, Chlorella sorokiniana was able to remove 100% of the phosphorus and nitrogen from the medium. Phosphorus was depleted within 4 days while nitrogen took 12 days to reach depletion. The phosphorus and nitrogen removal rates during the initial linear growth phase were 17 and 122 mg·L(-1)·d(-1), respectively. After this initial phase, the phosphorus was depleted. The nitrogen removal rate continued to decrease in the second phase, resulting in an overall removal rate of 80 mg·L(-1)·d(-1). The biomass concentration at the end of the experiment was 11.5 g·L(-1), with a P content of approximately 1% and a N content of 7.6%. This high algal biomass concentration, together with a relatively short P recovery time, is a promising finding for future post-treatment of black water while gaining valuable algal biomass for further application.
Authors: P Maza-Márquez; A González-Martínez; M V Martínez-Toledo; M Fenice; A Lasserrot; J González-López Journal: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Date: 2016-10-12 Impact factor: 4.223
Authors: Tânia V Fernandes; María Suárez-Muñoz; Lukas M Trebuch; Paul J Verbraak; Dedmer B Van de Waal Journal: Front Microbiol Date: 2017-09-11 Impact factor: 5.640