Wastewater treatment for nutrient removal with Ecuadorian native microalgae

Abstract

The aim of this project was to study the feasibility of utilizing native microalgae for the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus, as a potential secondary wastewater treatment process in Ecuador. Agitation and aeration batch experiments were conducted using synthetic secondary wastewater effluent, to determine nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies by a native Ecuadorian microalgal strain. Experimental results indicated that microalgal cultures could successfully remove nitrogen and phosphorus. [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] removal efficiencies of 52.6 and 55.6%, and 67.0 and 20.4%, as well as [Formula: see text] production efficiencies of 87.0 and 93.1% were reported in agitation and aeration photobioreactors, respectively. Aeration was not found to increase the nutrient removal efficiency of [Formula: see text]. Moreover, in the case of [Formula: see text], a negative impact was observed, where removal efficiencies decreased by a factor of 3.3 at higher aeration rates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the removal of nutrients by native Ecuadorian Chlorella sp., hence the results of this study would indicate that this native microalgal strain could be successfully incorporated in a potential treatment process for nutrient removal in Ecuador.

Determination of the Microbial and Chemical Loads in Rivers from the Quito Capital Province of Ecuador (Pichincha)—A Preliminary Analysis of Microbial and Chemical Quality of the Main Rivers

“…The analysis of physico-chemical parameters was conducted, as described in Benitez et al [ 23 ] and Grube et al [ 37 ], according to the standardized protocols for analysis of water and wastewater [ 33 ]. The values of each parameter were obtained by triplicate measurements of each analyzed river sample.…”

“…This study also revealed an increase in pollutant concentrations in the surroundings of Quito [ 21 ]. Most water quality studies utilize biological indicators such as Escherichia coli and total coliform counts [ 23 , 24 ]. However, other potentially pathogenic microorganisms can be identified in the recollected samples and used as biological indicators, such as Salmonella , Pseudomonas , Shigella , and Legionella spp., as well as parasites, Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp.…”

Prospects of Microalgae for Biomaterial Production and Environmental Applications at Biorefineries

“…Effective remediation processes are required to reduce the concentration of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and organic matter in municipal and industrial wastewaters, hence the use of microalgae has emerged as a promising strategy capable of eliminating pollutants [116]. The removal of nitrogen and phosphorous is very important to prevent eutrophication in receiving water bodies, reduce ammonia toxicity to fish, and prevent interference with free chlorine that is essential for drinking water treatment [117]. The use of microalgae for the removal of nutrients and organic matter from wastewater effluents was recently reviewed [118,119].…”

Effects of Co-culture on Improved Productivity and Bioresource for Microalgal Biomass Using the Floc-Forming Bacteria Melaminivora Jejuensis

“…As a result of these sedimentation rate limitations, wastewater-based cultivation methods have also been investigated in an attempt to reduce the production costs associated with cultivation (Cheng et al, 2019). Wastewater contains inorganic materials required for microalgal growth such as nitrogen and phosphorous (Benítez et al, 2019). To purify wastewater, nitrogen, and phosphorous must be removed; thus, the cultivation of microalgae using wastewater can be used to simultaneously purify wastewater and produce biomass at a low cost (Benítez et al, 2019;Cheng et al, 2019).…”

“…Wastewater contains inorganic materials required for microalgal growth such as nitrogen and phosphorous (Benítez et al, 2019). To purify wastewater, nitrogen, and phosphorous must be removed; thus, the cultivation of microalgae using wastewater can be used to simultaneously purify wastewater and produce biomass at a low cost (Benítez et al, 2019;Cheng et al, 2019). Furthermore, bacteria can be cultured together with microalgae during cultivation with wastewater (Kwon et al, 2019).…”