Microalgal Systems, a Green Solution for Wastewater Conventional Pollutants Removal, Disinfection, and Reduction of Antibiotic Resistance Genes Prevalence?

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Amaro, HM (Author) Other; Sousa, JF (Author) Other; Salgado, EM (Author) Other; Pires, JCM (Author) FEUP; Olga C Nunes (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Applied Sciences

Vol. 13

Final page: 4266

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus

Associated Projects

ALiCE - ALiCE - Laboratório Associado em Engenharia Química

LEPABE - Financiamento Plurianual 2020-2023 da Unidade de I&D LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia

PhotoBioValue - Efeito da luz na configuração de fotobiorreatores para o cultivo de microalgas: aumento da eficiência fotossintética e valorização da biomassa

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Y-5QD

DOI: 10.3390/app13074266

Abstract (EN): The low-efficiency rate of urban wastewater (UWW) treatment generates tons of discharged water with a high concentration of pollutants, pathogens and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs). Microalgal systems may be a green alternative to be implemented as a UWW polishing treatment. This study assessed the ability of Chlorella vulgaris and UWW autochthonous microalgal species (AMS) to simultaneously remove PO4-P, and reduce the proliferation of coliforms and ARGs. AMS seems to be more promising due to: (i) the higher specific growth rate, mu(max) (0.687 +/- 0.065 d(-1)); (ii) efficient PO4-P removal (92.62 +/- 0.10%); (iii) faster reduction of coliforms proliferation achieving concentrations below the limits of quantification (6 d); (iv) the reduction of intl1 and the ARGs sul1 and blaTEM abundance in ca. of 70.4%, 69.2%, and 75.7%, respectively (9 d); and (v) the additional reduction of these genes in ca. of 97.1%, 94.2%, and 99.9%, respectively, after 5 d storage in the dark and at room temperature. Results also revealed that the high pH values in both microalgal systems (due to microalgal growth) were highly correlated with a reduction in the proliferation of coliforms, including Escherichia coli. In conclusion, using AMS as a final polishing treatment of UWW seems to be very promising.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16