Annelies Beuckels

Nitrogen availability influences phosphorus removal in microalgae-based wastewater treatment

Microalgae offer a promising technology to remove and re-use the nutrients N and P from wastewater. For effective removal of both N and P, it is important that microalgae can adjust the N and P concentration in their biomass to the N and P supply in the wastewater. The aim of this study was to evaluate to what extent microalgae can adjust the N and P concentrations in their biomass to the N and P supply in the wastewater, and to what extent supply of one nutrient influences the removal of the other nutrient. Using Chlorella and Scenedesmus as model organisms, we quantified growth and biomass composition in medium with different initial N and P concentrations in all possible combinations. Nutrient supply marginally affected biomass yield of both microalgae but had a strong influence on the composition of the biomass. The nutrient concentrations in the biomass ranged 5.0-10.1 % for N and 0.5-1.3 % for P in Chlorella and 2.9-8.4 % for N and 0.5-1.7 % for P in Scenedesmus. The concentrations of P in the biomass remained low and were relatively constant (0.6-0.8 % P) when the N concentration in the biomass was low. As a result, removal of P from the wastewater was influenced by the concentration of N in the wastewater. When the initial N concentration in the wastewater was above 40 mg L(-1) the microalgae could remove up to 6 mg P L(-1), but this removal was only 2 mg P L(-1) when the initial N concentration was below 20 mg L(-1). A lower N supply increased the carbohydrate concentration to about 40% and lipid concentration to about 30% for both species, compared to around 15% and 10% respectively at high N supply. Our results show that sufficiently high N concentrations are needed to ensure effective P removal from wastewater due to the positive effect of N on the accumulation of P.

Membrane photobioreactors for integrated microalgae cultivation and nutrient remediation of membrane bioreactors effluent

The feasibility of a new concept of wastewater treatment by combining a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and a microalgae membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) is assessed in this study. In this system, the organic carbon present in wastewater is expected to be fully oxidized in the MBR, while the nutrients are removed via the subsequent MPBR treatment. The effluent of a lab-scale MBR was fed into a PBR and a MPBR which served as growing medium for Chlorella vulgaris. The MPBRs demonstrated their superiority by limiting the algae wash-out, thus increasing the allowable optimum dilution rate (Dopt). At these corresponding Dopt values, 3.5 and 2 times higher biomass concentrations and volumetric productivities respectively were achieved by the MPBR. It is also possible to run the MPBR at still higher biomass concentration, thus enabling a smaller footprint and higher nutrient removal efficiency. However, reduced nutrient removal efficiencies were found to be one possible drawback.

Alkaline flocculation of Phaeodactylum tricornutum induced by brucite and calcite

Alkaline flocculation holds great potential as a low-cost harvesting method for marine microalgae biomass production. Alkaline flocculation is induced by an increase in pH and is related to precipitation of calcium and magnesium salts. In this study, we used the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum as model organism to study alkaline flocculation of marine microalgae cultured in seawater medium. Flocculation started when pH was increased to 10 and flocculation efficiency reached 90% when pH was 10.5, which was consistent with precipitation modeling for brucite or Mg(OH)2. Compared to freshwater species, more magnesium is needed to achieve flocculation (>7.5mM). Zeta potential measurements suggest that brucite precipitation caused flocculation by charge neutralization. When calcium concentration was 12.5mM, flocculation was also observed at a pH of 10. Zeta potential remained negative up to pH 11.5, suggesting that precipitated calcite caused flocculation by a sweeping coagulation mechanism.

Wastewater as a Source of Nutrients for Microalgae Biomass Production

Production of microalgal biomass requires large amounts of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The sustainability and economic viability of microalgae production could be significantly improved if N and P are not supplied by synthetic fertilizers but with wastewater. Microalgae already play an important role in wastewater treatment, yet several challenges remain to optimally convert wastewater nutrients into microalgal biomass. This book chapter aims to give an overview of the potential of using wastewater for microalgae production, as well some challenges that should be taken into account. We also review the benefits of combining microalgal biomass production with wastewater treatment.