BACKGROUND: Microalgae–bacteria-based processes are among the most promising low-cost technologies to treat livestock wastewaters. The current literature reports the need for pretreatment or dilution of piggery wastewater for adequate microalgal growth. The aim of this study is to optimize the potential of microalgal–bacterial communities to treat undiluted and untreated piggery wastewater by investigating the influence of some operational parameters such as phosphorus and CO 2 availability and hydraulic retention time on the nitrogen removal efficiency and biomass productivity. RESULTS: The microalgal community (dominated by Chlorella spp.) developed quickly and remained quite stable. The rates of biomass production and NH 4 -N removal were 55 ± 30 mg TSS L −1  day −1 and 13 ± 3 mg NH 4 -N L −1  day −1 respectively. CO 2 adjustment had a positive effect on microalgal growth and NH 4 -N removal. CONCLUSION: Data confirm the ability of the microalgal–bacterial consortium to grow on undiluted and untreated piggery wastewater under semi-continuous conditions. Synergy between algae and bacteria seems positive since photosynthesis produces the oxygen needed for ammonia oxidation. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Lab-scale testing of operation parameters for algae based treatment of piggery wastewater

Bellucci, Micol;Ficara, Elena;
2019-01-01

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Microalgae–bacteria-based processes are among the most promising low-cost technologies to treat livestock wastewaters. The current literature reports the need for pretreatment or dilution of piggery wastewater for adequate microalgal growth. The aim of this study is to optimize the potential of microalgal–bacterial communities to treat undiluted and untreated piggery wastewater by investigating the influence of some operational parameters such as phosphorus and CO 2 availability and hydraulic retention time on the nitrogen removal efficiency and biomass productivity. RESULTS: The microalgal community (dominated by Chlorella spp.) developed quickly and remained quite stable. The rates of biomass production and NH 4 -N removal were 55 ± 30 mg TSS L −1  day −1 and 13 ± 3 mg NH 4 -N L −1  day −1 respectively. CO 2 adjustment had a positive effect on microalgal growth and NH 4 -N removal. CONCLUSION: Data confirm the ability of the microalgal–bacterial consortium to grow on undiluted and untreated piggery wastewater under semi-continuous conditions. Synergy between algae and bacteria seems positive since photosynthesis produces the oxygen needed for ammonia oxidation. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
2019
microalgae; nitrification; nutrient removal; piggery wastewater; Biotechnology; Chemical Engineering (all); Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment; Fuel Technology; Waste Management and Disposal; Pollution; Organic Chemistry; Inorganic Chemistry
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/1085222
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