Selecting the most suitable microalgae species to treat the effluent from an anaerobic membrane bioreactor

ABSTRACT

Conventional treatments for nutrient removal in wastewater are shifting to Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors, which produce a high-quality effluent with minimum sludge production. The effluent resulting contains high nitrogen and phosphorus load that can be eliminated by microalgae culture. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ammonium and phosphorus removal rate of different microalgae species in the effluent of an anaerobic treatment. For that, 4 different microalgae species have been tested (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Scenedesmus obliquus, Chlorella vulgaris and Monoraphidium braunii) in batch monoculture and mixed conditions. Results indicate that all species are able to eliminate both P and N in the medium with high removal rates. However, a slight interspecies competition may boost these removal rates and productivity values ensuring, the success of the process.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Microalgae
• nutrient removal
• productivity
• wastewater
• submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) [grant numbers CTM2014-54980-C2-1-R and CTM2014-54980-C2-2-R], European Regional Development Fund [ERDF], and Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport via pre-doctoral FPU fellowship to the (third) author [grant number FPU14/05082].