Effect of the N/P ratio on biomass productivity and nutrient removal from municipal wastewater

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the N/P ratio on biomass growth with the simultaneous removal of nutrients from municipal wastewaters. An optical panel photobioreactor is employed for this investigation because it provides a uniform light distribution within the reactor, which enhances the efficiency of the reactor in the cultivation of microalgae. The N/P ratio is varied over a wide range, i.e., from 5 to 30, for the assessment of its effect on biomass productivity. There is not a strong correlation between biomass productivity and TN removal, and these factors do not seem to be proportional in the wastewater using the microalgae we employed. In contrast, the TP removal depends greatly on both the N/P ratio and biomass productivity. The optimum value of the N/P ratio for biomass productivity in and nutrient removal from municipal wastewater treatment using microalgae varies from 5 to 30, depending on the ecological conditions in the wastewater.

Scenedesmus-based treatment of nitrogen and phosphorus from effluent of anaerobic digester and bio-oil production

“…In particular, the optimal N/P ratio of Scenedesmus sp. was known to be 5-30 depending on the ecological condition (Choi and Lee, 2014). Therefore, the N/P ratio of 4.6 of the AD effluent used in this study, though on the extreme end, fell within the range, and may well support the algal growth so long as an appropriate species is chosen.…”

Differences in the treatment efficiency of a cold-resistant floating bed plant receiving two types of low-pollution wastewater

“…The optimum N/P ratio for efficient wastewater treatment is often species specific (Choi and Lee 2015). Xu et al (2013) reported that the highest removal rates of TP and NH 4 + -N occurred at an N/P ratio of 8:1 in both rice and water spinach floating bed systems receiving eutrophic water with three different N/P ratios.…”

“…The N/P ratio of the wastewater is another important factor that affects treatment efficiency . Currently, much attention has been given to the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus at different N/P ratios (Choi and Lee 2015;Xu et al 2013). However, how plant growth status and N and P stoichiometry respond to different C/N/P ratios in wastewater is still not clear in the context of ecological treatment systems (Sun et al 2009;Zhang et al 2007;Zhou and Wang 2010;Zhu et al 2011).…”

Environmental and nutrient conditions influence fucoxanthin productivity of the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum grown on palm oil mill effluent

“…In addition, the biomass production, growth, and fucoxanthin productivity of P. tricornutum depend on nutrient concentration and the balance between relevant nitrogen and phosphorus (N/P) species in the media (Choi and Lee 2015;Whitton et al 2016;McClure et al 2018).…”