Huaqiang Chu

Chlorella pyrenoidosa cultivation using anaerobic digested starch processing wastewater in an airlift circulation photobioreactor

To explore the integration of microalgae cultivation and anaerobic processing for wastewater treatment, we utilized an airlift circulation photobioreactor and a dynamic membrane reactor for microalgae cultivation in combination with an upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor for starch processing wastewater (SPW) treatment. Chlorella pyrenoidosa completely adapted to the digested SPW without any chemical additives, and it grew normally under a wide temperature range in different seasons. C. pyrenoidosa was always the dominant microorganism in the photobioreactors although bacteria and some wild type microalgae were observed. Optimal biomass growth and pollutants removal was achieved at temperatures between 35 and 38°C in summer, removing 65.99% of COD, 83.06% of TN, 96.97% of TP and a biomass productivity of 0.37gL(-1)d(-1). Temperature fluctuation significantly influenced lipid contents and FAMEs compositions in biomass. The results demonstrate the successful integration of microalgae biomass production and anaerobic processing for wastewater treatment.

Nutrients removal and lipids production by Chlorella pyrenoidosa cultivation using anaerobic digested starch wastewater and alcohol wastewater.

The cultivation of microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) using anaerobic digested starch wastewater (ADSW) and alcohol wastewater (AW) was evaluated in this study. Different proportions of mixed wastewater (AW/ADSW=0.176:1, 0.053:1, 0.026:1, v/v) and pure ADSW, AW were used for C. pyrenoidosa cultivation. The different proportions between ADSW and AW significantly influenced biomass growth, lipids production and pollutants removal. The best performance was achieved using mixed wastewater (AW/ADSW=0.053:1, v/v), leading to a maximal total biomass of 3.01±0.15 g/L (dry weight), lipids productivity of 127.71±6.31 mg/L/d and pollutants removal of COD=75.78±3.76%, TN=91.64±4.58% and TP=90.74±4.62%.

Pretreatment and Membrane Hydrophilic Modification to Reduce Membrane Fouling

The application of low pressure membranes (microfiltration/ultrafiltration) has undergone accelerated development for drinking water production. However, the major obstacle encountered in its popularization is membrane fouling caused by natural organic matter (NOM). This paper firstly summarizes the two factors causing the organic membrane fouling, including molecular weight (MW) and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of NOM, and then presents a brief introduction of the methods which can prevent membrane fouling such as pretreatment of the feed water (e.g., coagulation, adsorption, and pre-oxidation) and membrane hydrophilic modification (e.g., plasma modification, irradiation grafting modification, surface coating modification, blend modification, etc.). Perspectives of further research are also discussed.

Continuous cultivation of Chlorella pyrenoidosa using anaerobic digested starch processing wastewater in the outdoors

Microalgae cultivation using wastewater might be a suitable approach to support sustainable large-scale biomass production. Its compelling characteristics included the recycling of nutrients and water resources, reducing carbon emissions and harvesting available biomass. In outdoor batch and continuous cultures, Chlorella pyrenoidosa completely adapted to anaerobic digested starch processing wastewater and was the dominant microorganism in the photobioreactor. However, seasonal changes of environmental conditions significantly influenced biomass growth and lipid production. The long-term outdoor operation demonstrated that the biomass concentration and productivity in continuous operations at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) can be successfully predicted using the kinetic growth parameters obtained from the batch culture. A moderate HRT (4days) in the summer provided the best microalgae and lipid production and achieved relatively high biomass concentrations of 1.29-1.62g/L, biomass productivities of 342.6±12.8mg/L/d and lipids productivities of 43.37±7.43mg/L/d.

Dewatering of Chlorella pyrenoidosa using diatomite dynamic membrane: Filtration performance, membrane fouling and cake behavior

The diatomite dynamic membrane (DDM) was utilized to dewater Chlorella pyrenoidosa of 2 g dry weight/L under continuous-flow mode, whose ultimate algae concentration ranged from 43 g to 22 g dry weight/L of different culture time. The stable flux of DDM could reach 30 L/m(2) h over a 24 h operation time without backwash. Influences of extracellular organic matters (EOM) on filtration behavior and membrane fouling were studied. The DDM was divided into three sub-layers, the slime layer, the algae layer and the diatomite layer from the outside to the inside of the cake layer based on components and morphologies. It was found that EOM caused membrane fouling by accumulating in the slime and algae layers. The DDM intercepted polysaccharides, protein-like substances, humic-like substances and some low-MW organics. Proteins were indicated the major membrane foulants with increased protein/polysaccharide ratio from the slime layer to the diatomite layer as culture time increased. This method could be applied to subsequent treatment of microalgae coupling technology of wastewater treatment or microalgae harvesting for producing biofuel.

Extraction procedure optimization and the characteristics of dissolved extracellular organic matter (dEOM) and bound extracellular organic matter (bEOM) from Chlorella pyrenoidosa

The influence of extracellular organic matter (EOM) on membrane fouling is important for algae cultivation and harvest. Therefore, a deep understanding of EOM and a systematic extraction process are necessary. In this study, EOM from Chlorella pyrenoidosa was thoroughly studied by using different methods to stratify it into dEOM and bEOM. Among these methods, the centrifugation method was optimized for dEOM extraction, and the heating and NaOH methods were optimized for bEOM extraction. In addition, dEOM and bEOM were compared by using analytical methods to obtain their protein and polysaccharide contents, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contents, specific UV absorbances (SUVA), zeta potentials, FTIR spectra, EEM fluorescence spectra, hydrophobicities and molecular weights. The dEOM and bEOM both primarily consisted of proteins and polysaccharides and carried negative charges with relatively low SUVAs. The protein/polysaccharide ratios in the bEOM were 6.35 (control), 12.54 (heating) and 7.54 (NaOH) mg mg(-1), which were greater than the ratio of the dEOM (2.93 mg mg(-1)). Furthermore, the hydrophobicity analysis indicated that the bEOM had higher hydrophobic fraction content than the dEOM. However, both types of EOM were more hydrophilic in terms of the DOC. Finally, size fraction analysis indicated that high-MW (>100 kDa) and low-MW fractions (<1 kDa) were the primary components in EOMs. Specifically, a greater high-MW fraction was observed in the bEOM, which primarily consisted of DOC and proteins. In contrast with the proteins, the polysaccharides of the dEOM and bEOM were primarily distributed in the hydrophilic and low-MW fractions. Using comparative analysis, centrifugation at 10,000×g for 10 min was chosen as the best method for extracting dEOM. In contrast, heating at 70°C for 20 min was the best method for extracting bEOM.

Effect of temperature on extracellular organic matter (EOM) of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and effect of EOM on irreversible membrane fouling

Extracellular organic matter (EOM) can cause serious membrane fouling during the algae harvesting process. In this study, the secretion of EOM, including bound-EOM (bEOM) and dissolved-EOM (dEOM), by Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) at different culturing temperatures, and their influences on membrane filtration, have been investigated. The secretion of EOM was markedly reduced at high temperatures. The specific EOM secretion rate (SEOM) reached 831.1 ± 55.3mg/g at the lowest temperatures of 15 °C; in contrast, the SEOM decreased to only 370-442 and 356-406 mg/g with temperature rising above 20-25 and 30-35 °C, respectively. Based on membrane filtration experiments, the influence of EOM on irreversible membrane fouling was studied. In a critical flux experiment, low critical flux (24 L/m(2)h) was observed in a system with a high EOM concentration. The fouled membranes were rinsed by water and then used for continuous filtration, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The results revealed that there was irreversible membrane fouling caused by EOM, and irreversible membrane fouling can be more serious when an algae solution contains high EOM levels.

Pretreatment of micro-polluted surface water with a biologically enhanced PAC-diatomite dynamic membrane reactor to produce drinking water

Abstract This study developed a biologically enhanced powder activated carbon (PAC) diatomite dynamic membrane reactor (BPDDMR) to pretreat micro-polluted surface water for drinking water production at lab-scale in continuous mode. In the start-up operation period, the BPDDMR required approximately 26 and 31 d to achieve stable removal efficiency of CODMn and NH3–N, respectively. Turbidity was always below 0.5 NTU throughout the operation experiment in the permeate flux range of 21−54lm−2 h−1. The BPDDMR could effectively remove the hydrophilic portion of dissolved organic materials (DOM) present in the raw water. The temperature affected pollutant removal (especially CODMn), which was mainly ascribed to microbial degradation and was also enhanced by PAC and diatomite adsorption. During the precoating period, the stainless steel support mesh (aperture 74 μm) first intercepted the large PAC (50−100 μm), and then diatomite particles (5−20 μm) were intercepted to form a two-layer structure of the biologicall...

Outdoor cultures of Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the effluent of anaerobically digested activated sludge: The effects of pH and free ammonia

A freshwater algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa was cultured outdoors using anaerobically digested activated sludge effluent. The effects of pH variations were evaluated. The coupled pH variations and free ammonia toxicity significantly affected the algal growth, lipids accumulation and contamination control during every season. The free ammonia toxicity at high pH levels actually inhibited the algal growth. Compared to an optimal algal growth at a pH of 5.7-6.5, biomass productivity at a high pH of 8.3-8.8 was reduced by 67.15±6.98%, 54.39±6.42% and 83.63±5.71% in the spring, fall and summer, respectively. When the pH rose above 9.1-9.6, algae were unable to grow in the wastewater. However, high pH levels reduced contamination (e.g., bacteria and microalgae grazers) and triggered lipids accumulation in algal cells. These findings suggest that pH control strategies are essential for this type of algal wastewater system, where ammonia is the dominant nitrogen source.

Comparison of axial vibration membrane and submerged aeration membrane in microalgae harvesting.

The submerged aeration membrane (SAM) system and axial vibration membrane (AVM) system can mitigate membrane fouling. In this study, both systems were investigated to compare the performance of filtration and the membrane fouling in algae filtration. In 5-h filtration, the transmembrane pressure (TMP) of SAM reached to 70.0 kPa, while there was almost no increase in TMP for AVM. After continuous filtration, it could be found that there was hardly any algae cells on the membrane of AVM (0.11 g/m(2)), which was about 32.4 times less than that of SAM (3.56 g/m(2)). Compared with the SAM system, AVM had a lesser membrane fouling, regardless of the reversible fouling or irreversible fouling. By SEM, FTIR and EEM, it could be found there was less irreversible extracellular organic matter (EOM) on the membrane of AVM. By MW distribution, it could be observed that less EOM with high-MW adhered to membrane of AVM.