Assessing the potential of microalgae for nutrients removal from a landfill leachate using an innovative tubular photobioreactor

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Porto, B (Author) Other; Goncalves, AL (Author) Other; Esteves, AF (Author) Other; de Souza, SMAGU (Author) Other; de Souza, AAU (Author) Other; Vitor Vilar (Author) FEUP; Pires, JCM (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Chemical Engineering Journal

Vol. 413

ISSN: 1385-8947

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 4 Citations

Associated Projects

LEPABE - Projeto Estratégico do LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia

IF/01341/2015 - Configurações de fotobiorreatores para cultivo de microalgas: modelação de bioprocessos e avaliação de sustentabilidade

LSRE-LCM - Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reacção - Laboratório de Catálise e Materiais

PIV4Algae - Intensificação do processo de produção e valorização de microalgas

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-0YE

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.127546

Abstract (EN): Leachates treatment relies on the adoption of a multi-barrier strategy, involving primary, secondary, and tertiary processes. Due to their ability to grow in a wide variety of environmental conditions, and their nutritional requirements, especially in terms of nitrogen and phosphorus, microalgae appear as a promising alternative for the tertiary treatment of landfill leachates. Despite these advantages, only a few studies have promoted landfill leachates treatment using microalgae, most of them emphasizing the need for effluent dilution in water to minimize the toxicity and high color/turbidity of these effluents. An option to avoid the use of freshwater for effluent dilution would be the development of novel photobioreactors (PBRs), able to improve light absorption and, hence, light utilization efficiency by microalgae. This study evaluated the potential of Chlorella vulgaris and Tetradesmus obliquus on nitrogen (in the forms of nitrate and nitrite) removal from a pre-treated landfill leachate. Preliminary experiments using different concentrations of the pre-treated leachate were carried out in 1-L flasks. These results have shown that microalgal growth and nitrogen removal were higher in more diluted conditions. After selection of the adequate effluent concentration, a tubular PBR coupled to an optical reflector was used for biomass production. This innovative PBR is known to improve light distribution along the tube perimeter, enhancing microalgal photosynthetic activity. In fact, a significant improvement in C. vulgaris biomass productivities and nitrogen species removal efficiencies was observed in this PBR, confirming its potential as an effective platform for microalgal biomass production and tertiary treatment of landfill leachates.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16