Abstract
Microalgae paves the way towards a negative emission technology; however, single-pot systems combining nutrient removal and wastewater treatment are scarce in the literature. In this study, three different types of wastewater (university, municipality, and dairy industries) were studied using microalgae towards treatment and nutrient removal using Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorella sp. The experiments were carried out in 20 L reactors, for 9 days, where in achieving a maximum of algal growth rate of 770 and 725 mg/L for Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorella sp., respectively. Of the three wastewaters, dairy wastewater had the highest influent COD (3488 mg/L), which was reduced by 92% after 9 days. The pigment content was highest after 6 days (0.22 ± 0.03%), and there was no significant improvement after 9 days, suggesting a trade-off between nutrient removal, photosynthetic performance, and COD reduction. Microalgae act as a sustainable solution and negative emission technology to solve the crisis of wastewater treatment, nutrient removal and production of high-value products.
Graphical abstract
Single-pot microalage-based nutrient removal and wastewater treatment system
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Abbreviations
- ASP:
-
Activated sludge process
- CEPT:
-
Common effluent treatment plant
- COD:
-
Chemical oxygen demand
- DCW:
-
Dry cell weight
- DWW:
-
Dairy wastewater
- HRT:
-
Hydraulic retention time
- MFC:
-
Microbial fuel cell
- MLD:
-
Million litre per day
- MWW:
-
Municipal wastewater
- N:
-
Nitrogen
- NPK:
-
Nitrogen phosphorus potassium
- P:
-
Phosphorus
- SPV:
-
Sulfo-phospho-vanillin
- STP:
-
Sewage treatment plant
- TCA:
-
Trichloroacetic acid
- TN:
-
Total nitrogen
- TP:
-
Total phosphorus
- UWW:
-
University wastewater
- WW:
-
Wastewater
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Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and Sangam Milk Producers Company Limited, Guntur, for providing wastewater to carry out the experiment.
Funding
This work was carried out with the financial support received from SRM University—AP through the SRM University—AP Research Grant under Grant No. SRMAP/URG/E&EP/2022–23/004.
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SCG: Conceptualization, Methodology, Data curation, Writing and Editing. KM: Methodology and Data curation. PG: Data curation. JM: Review and Editing. IP: Review and Editing. KR: Writing—Review and Editing, Supervision, Project Administration.
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Gowd, S.C., Mehta, K., Ganeshan, P. et al. Microalgae as a single-pot system for nutrient removal and wastewater treatment: comparison of effluents and species performance. Clean Techn Environ Policy (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-024-02808-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-024-02808-z