The aim of this study was to investigate the PHB and glycogen accumulation dynamics in two photobioreactors inoculated with different monocultures of wastewater-borne cyanobacteria, using a three-stage feeding strategy (growth phase, feast-famine phase and feast phase). Two cyanobacterial monocultures containing members of Synechocystis sp.or Synechococcus sp. were collected from treated wastewater and inoculated in lab-scale photobioreactors to evaluate the PHB and glycogen accumulation. A third photobioreactor with a complex microbial community grown in real wastewater was also

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One of the main energy consumptions in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is due to the oxygenation of aerobic biological processes. In order to approach to an energy selfsufficient scenario in WWTPs, Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors (MABRs) provide a good opportunity to reduce the impact of aeration on the global energy balance. However, mass transfer limitations derived from poor flow distribution must be tackled to take advantage of this technology. In this work, in order to improve mass transfer between biofilm and bulk water, a specific configuration was developed and studied at laboratory scale, aimed at compactness, energy efficiency and high nitrification rates. Nitrification rates were higher in the innovative configuration than in the conventional one, achieving a Volumetric Nitrification Rate (VNR) as high as 575.84 g NH4-N m-3 d-1 , which is comparable with confirmed technologies. Regarding energy consumption due to aeration, a reduction of 83.7% was reached in comparison with aeration through diffusers with the same Oxygen Transfer Efficiency (OTE). These results highlight the importance of hydrodynamic conditions and the membranes configuration on treatment performance.