Growth and nutrient removal in free and immobilized green algae in batch and semi-continuous cultures treating real wastewater
Abstract
Two species of microalgae growing as immobilized and free-cells were compared to test its ability to remove N and P in batch cultures of urban wastewater. The best microalgae-cell growth configuration was selected to be tested in bioreactor operated in semi-continuous mode. Scenedesmus obliquus showed a higher N and P uptake rate in urban wastewater than Chlorella vulgaris. When tested in semi-continuous mode and with the re-calcification of beads, S. obliquus was more effective in removing N and P for longer periods (181 h) than batch cultures; fecal coliforms removal was good (95%) although the final concentration was still unsuitable for discharge to natural water bodies. Protein and lipids content analysis suggest that, from a practical point of view, immobilized systems could facilitate the separation of the biomass from the treated wastewater although in terms of nutritional value of the biomass, immobilized systems do not represent an advantage over free-cell systems.
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Algae are very efficient at sequestering nutrients when present in their environment.
“Often, the nutrient requirement necessary for algal growth is ignored, since algae are very efficient at sequestering these nutrients when present in their environment [34,35].”
From Biofuels from algae: Challenges and potential (2010) · cites this paper as [35]
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- Authors
- Ruiz-Marin, A., Mendoza-Espinosa, L. G., & Stephenson, T.
- Affiliations
- Cranfield University (GB)
- Venue
- Bioresource Technology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-01
- Volume
- 101
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 58-64
- ISSN
- 0960-8524 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2157614933
- Cited by
- 644
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 56 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 51 · 2016: 57 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 37 · 2013: 43 · 2012: 30
- FWCI
- 8.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Bioresource Technology (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 › Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Keywords
- microalgae, immobilized cells, Scenedesmus obliquus, Chlorella vulgaris, nitrogen removal, phosphorus removal, municipal wastewater treatment, semi-continuous culture, fecal coliform removal, microalgae bioreactors, microalgae biomass valorization, protein and fat content
- MeSH terms
- Chlorophyta, Industrial Waste, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Purification, Bioreactors
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