Cited by 399Algal biology and biofuel productionWastewater Treatment and ReuseConstructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment

Rotating Algal Biofilm Reactor and Spool Harvester for Wastewater Treatment with Biofuels By‐products

Christenson, Logan B., Sims, Ronald C.·2012·Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Abstract

Maximizing algae production in a wastewater treatment process can aid in the reduction of soluble nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the wastewater. If harvested, the algae-based biomass offers the added benefit as feedstock for the production of biofuels and bioproducts. However, difficulties in harvesting, concentrating, and dewatering the algae-based biomass have limited the development of an economically feasible treatment and production process. When algae-based biomass is grown as a surface attached biofilm as opposed to a suspended culture, the biomass is naturally concentrated and more easily harvested. This can lead to less expensive removal of the biomass from wastewater, and less expensive downstream processing in the production of biofuels and bioproducts. In this study, a novel rotating algal biofilm reactor (RABR) was designed, built, and tested at bench (8 L), medium (535 L), and pilot (8,000 L) scales. The RABR was designed to operate in the photoautotrophic conditions of open tertiary wastewater treatment, producing mixed culture biofilms made up of algae and bacteria. Growth substrata were evaluated for attachment and biofilm formation, and an effective substratum was discovered. The RABR achieved effective nutrient reduction, with average removal rates of 2.1 and 14.1 g m(-2) day(-1) for total dissolved phosphorus and total dissolved nitrogen, respectively. Biomass production ranged from 5.5 g m(-2) day(-1) at bench scale to as high as 31 g m(-2) day…

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1002/bit.24451

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  • Using a scraper, the revolving algal biofilm system provides a more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly method of harvesting microalgae compared with conventional methods.

    “Moreover, using a scraper, it also provides a more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly method of harvesting microalgae compared with conventional methods (Christenson and Sims, 2012).”

    From Strategies to Produce Cost-Effective Third-Generation Biofuel From Microalgae (2021) · cites this paper as Christenson and Sims, 2012

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Authors
Christenson, L. B., & Sims, R. C.
Affiliations
Utah State University (US)
Corresponding author
Christenson, Logan B.
Venue
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-02-13
Volume
109
Issue
7
Pages
1674-1684
ISSN
  • 0006-3592 (ISSN-L)
  • 1097-0290
OpenAlex
W2070893650
Cited by
399
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 4
FWCI
9.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Biotechnology and Bioengineering (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
Keywords
wastewater treatment, nitrogen removal, phosphorus removal, biomass concentration, biofuel feedstock, scale-up
MeSH terms
Bacteria, Chlorella, Equipment Design, Rotation, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Biofilms, Bioreactors, Scenedesmus

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