Biosorption of nutrients by Zygnema sterile and Lepocinclism textra biomass in high rate algae culture system

Abstract

The biosorption characteristics of N and P nutrients by Zygnema sterile and Lepocinclism textra biomasses were closely investigated using a lab scale high rate culture system. From operating this system, the following points were obtained: the calculated AGP was 4.58×^10-3 mg/d; the maximum of DO generation was 5.8 mg DO/L during peak algal growth for 1403.97 Chl.-a µg/L; this system generated an average of 0.77 mg/L DO/d; the fundamental biosorption mechanism can be considered as the movement of (+) and (-) electric charge on the algal biomass surface, similar to one of ion exchange; with the biosorption and passage of (-) ions onto and through the cell wall, respectively, the protomotive force becomes predominant.

Keywords:

• Biosorption characteristics of nutrients
• Zygnema sterile and Lepocinclism textra biomasses
• Ion exchange
• Protomotive force