Microalgal growth in municipal wastewater treated in an anaerobic moving bed biofilm reactor

Abstract

Nutrient removal from the effluent of an anaerobic moving bed biofilm reactor (AnMBBR) treated with microalgae was evaluated. Algal treatment was highly efficient in removal of nutrients and discharge limits were met after 3 days. Extending the cultivation time from 3 to 5 days resulted in a large increase in biomass, from 233.3 +/- 49.3 to 530.0 +/- 72.1 mg L-1, despite nutrients in the water being exhausted after 3 days (ammonium 0.04 mg L-1, orthophosphate <0.05 mg L-1). Biomass productivity, lipid content and quality did not differ in microalgal biomass produced in wastewater sampled before the AnMBBR. The longer cultivation time resulted in a slight increase in total lipid concentration and a significant decrease in linolenic acid concentration in all treatments. Differences were observed in chemical oxygen demand, which decreased after algal treatment in wastewater sampled before the AnMBBR whereas it increased after algal treatment in the effluent from the AnMBBR. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

AnMBBR; Chlorella spp.; Fatty acids; Nutrient removal; Scenedesmus spp.

Published in

Bioresource Technology
2016, volume: 207, pages: 19-23
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

• Hultberg, Malin

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Birgersson, Göran

  • Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
SDG11 Sustainable cities and communities

UKÄ Subject classification

Other Environmental Engineering
Microbiology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.001

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/76801