Microalgal Growth in Paper Industry Effluent: Coupling Biomass Production with Nutrients Removal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

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

Journal

Title: Applied Sciences

Vol. 10

Final page: 3009

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Associated Projects

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

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

PIV4Algae - Intensificação do processo de produção e valorização de microalgas

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

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-8HF

DOI: 10.3390/app10093009

Abstract (EN): Paper and pulp industries produce effluents with high phosphorus concentrations, which need to be treated before their discharge in watercourses. The use of microalgae for this purpose has attracted the attention of researchers because: (i) microalgae can assimilate phosphorus (one of the main nutrients for their growth); and (ii) growing on effluents can significantly reduce the costs and environmental impact of microalgal biomass production. This study evaluated the growth and ability of Chlorella vulgaris to remove the phosphorus from a secondary-treated effluent of a Portuguese paper company. Batch experiments were performed for 11 days using different dilutions of the effluent to evaluate its inhibitory effect on microalgae. Results showed that the non-diluted effluent inhibited microalgal growth, indicating that this bioremediation process is possible after a previous dilution of the effluent. Regarding phosphorus removal, promising results were achieved, especially in the experiments conducted with the most diluted effluent: removal efficiencies obtained in these conditions were (54 +/- 1)%. Another interesting finding of this study was microalgal growth in flakes' form (mainly due to the compounds present in the effluent and to the pH values achieved), which can be an important economic advantage for biomass recovery after the remediation step.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15