Integrating micro-algae into wastewater treatment: A review

Mohsenpour, Seyedeh Fatemeh; Hennige, Sebastian; Willoughby, Nicholas; Adeloye, Adebayo J.; Gutiérrez, Tony

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142168

Cited by 541 publications

(231 citation statements)

References 245 publications

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“…Percentage reductions of COD, BOD 5, TN, and TP in the wastewater were 75, 71, 79, and 63% respectively. In other previous studies on the cultivation of microalgae (C. vulgaris) in industrial wastewater (brewery effluent) removal of 88% BOD, 82% TN and 54% TP has been reported [36].…”

Section: Microalgae Cultivation In the Wastewatermentioning

confidence: 91%

Utilization of sugarcane factories’ wastes as inexpensive source of nutrients and CO2 for microalgal biomass production: process coupling and potential evaluation

Zewdie

Ali

2021

SN Appl. Sci.

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One approach for the viable production of algal biomass is to couple its production with wastewater treatment plants, power and/or industrial plants. This is intended towards the utilization of the nutrients and the CO2 in the wastewater and in the flue gases of the industry respectively by the microalgae during their growth. In the present study microalgal biomass production was conceptually coupled with a sugar factory. The potential of the wastewater and the flue gas of the factory to support the growth of the microalgae was evaluated. Likewise the possible reduction of pollution by the microalgae was studied. The outputs from the coupled process were determined using the material and energy balance approach with a spread sheet. The cultivation model shows that 12 mg of total nitrogen (TN) and 7.4 mg of total phosphorus (TP) per liter of wastewater could be transferred to the algal growth ponds. It was found that there is a nitrogen deficit in the wastewater. With the supply of makeup nutrient, 120.5 tons/year microalgal biomass could be produced from the coupled process. Application of the assumptions resulted in the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (mg O2/L) from 2200 to 447, biological oxygen demand (BOD5) (mg O2/L) from 1200 to 207, TN (mg/L) from 15 to 0.6 and, TP (mg/L) from 10 to 1.5 in the wastewater. Integration of the sugarcane processing factories with algal biomass production is important for both biomass production and bioremediation.

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Section: Microalgae Cultivation In the Wastewatermentioning

confidence: 91%

Utilization of sugarcane factories’ wastes as inexpensive source of nutrients and CO2 for microalgal biomass production: process coupling and potential evaluation

Zewdie

Ali

2021

SN Appl. Sci.

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“…Some key aspects to take into account to accomplish success in microalgae‐based wastewater treatment are (a) the selection of robust microalgae strains, capable to grow under variable conditions (Morillas‐España et al, 2020). In this respect, native microalgae are usually a preferable option as they are better adapted to the environment (Galès et al, 2019); (b) selection of the most appropriate reactor configuration (Mohsenpour et al, 2021); and (c) monitoring, automation, and control of microalgae cultivation to implement the process. Many approaches have been already done in this respect (Foladori, Petrini, & Andreottola, 2018; Martínez, Mairet, Martinon, & Bernard, 2019; Robles et al, 2020), although further research is needed to implement industrial‐scale microalgae cultivation systems.…”

Section: Outdoor Microalgae Cultivation Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outdoor microalgae‐based urban wastewater treatment: Recent advances, applications, and future perspectives

et al. 2021

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Although microalgae‐based wastewater treatment has been traditionally carried out in extensive waste stabilization ponds, recent trends focus on the use of microalgae to apply the circular economy principles in the wastewater treatment sector due to the capacity of algae to absorb carbon dioxide while recovering nutrients from sewage. To this aim, the development of new intensive microalgae‐based systems with higher efficiency and level of process control is required. Results obtained for these systems at lab scale are generally promising. However, upscaling to outdoor conditions is often uncertain. Some advances have been made in terms of applying open systems at large scale. However, there are still some issues related to land requirements and the economic feasibility and robustness of the process that have to be overcome to widely implement these systems. This article aims at describing the main design and operating factors regarding outdoor microalgae cultivation. It will also explain some microalgae cultivation technologies to treat wastewater, showing their advantages, disadvantages, and the possibility to treat different wastewater streams with microalgae cultures. Future perspectives of this biotechnology will be commented as well. This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Engineering Water

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“…The three key nutrients for microalgae growth are carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The assimilation of these nutrients is highly influenced by the overall nutrient composition available in the medium of cultivation [11,12]. The organic matter of the soil consists of a number of elements, such as carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), magnesium (Mg), and small quantities of sulfur (S), nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the use of higher rates of N adversely affected the performance of root nodulation and N fertilizer use, it maximized the economic returns in terms of net sales, cost profit ratio, and cost-benefit incremental ratio. Furthermore, the rationale behind the use of mixotrophic micro-algae for wastewater treatment lies in their ability to use organic and inorganic carbon, as well as inorganic carbon N and P in wastewater for their growing, resulting in reductions of substances concentration in water [12]. Ref.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Microalgae can be grown on inorganic carbon sources (dissociated form (HCO 3 − , CO 3 2− ) and undissociated type (CO 2 , H 2 CO 3 ) [19]. It is also capable of utilizing N from a number of inorganic substances (e.g., NH 4+ , NO 3 , and NO 2 ) and organic sources (for example, amino acids, urea, purines, and nucleosides) [12,20,21]. Phosphorus is also an essential element for micro-algae that is involved in countless metabolic pathways as well as a structural component of phospholipids, nucleotides, and ATP.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Kinetics Growth and Recovery of Valuable Nutrients from Selangor Peat Swamp and Pristine Forest Soils Using Different Extraction Methods as Potential Microalgae Growth Enhancers

et al. 2021

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Soil extracts are useful nutrients to enhance the growth of microalgae. Therefore, the present study attempts for the use of virgin soils from Peninsular Malaysia as growth enhancer. Soils collected from Raja Musa Forest Reserve (RMFR) and Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve (AHFR) were treated using different extraction methods. The total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in the autoclave methods were relatively higher than natural extraction with up to 132.0 mg N/L, 10.7 mg P/L, and 2629 mg C/L, respectively for RMFR. The results of TDN, TDP, and DOC suggested that the best extraction methods are autoclaved at 121 °C twice with increasing 87%, 84%, and 95%, respectively. Chlorella vulgaris TRG 4C dominated the growth at 121 °C twice extraction method in the RMRF and AHRF samples, with increasing 54.3% and 14%, respectively. The specific growth rate (µ) of both microalgae were relatively higher, 0.23 d−1 in the Ayer Hitam Soil. This extract served well as a microalgal growth promoter, reducing the cost and the needs for synthetic medium. Mass production of microalgae as aquatic feed will be attempted eventually. The high recovery rate of nutrients has a huge potential to serve as a growth promoter for microalgae.

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Integrating micro-algae into wastewater treatment: A review

Cited by 541 publications

References 245 publications

Utilization of sugarcane factories’ wastes as inexpensive source of nutrients and CO2 for microalgal biomass production: process coupling and potential evaluation

Utilization of sugarcane factories’ wastes as inexpensive source of nutrients and CO2 for microalgal biomass production: process coupling and potential evaluation

Outdoor microalgae‐based urban wastewater treatment: Recent advances, applications, and future perspectives

Kinetics Growth and Recovery of Valuable Nutrients from Selangor Peat Swamp and Pristine Forest Soils Using Different Extraction Methods as Potential Microalgae Growth Enhancers

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