Feasibility of closing nutrient cycles from black water by microalgae-based technology

Silva, Gustavo Henrique Ribeiro da; Sueitt, Ana Paula Erbetta; Haimes, Sarah; Tripidaki, Aikaterini; Zwieten, Ralph van; Fernandes, Tânia V.

doi:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101715

Cited by 29 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…The data thus supported the underlying hypothesis of this experiment, that a non-axenic phototrophic biofilm readily toggles between net-autotrophic and net-heterotrophic growth, dependent on the availability of labile organic carbon sources. While there is obviously a strong impetus to use wastewater as an inexpensive and abundant growth medium for algal biotechnologies [ 7 , 43 ], this result speaks to an important consideration in this approach. If bio-sequestration of CO 2 (be it from point or diffuse sources) is a primary objective, it may be disadvantageous to grow the sequestering culture in a wastewater stream that is vulnerable to organic nutrient spikes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite being a major component of wastewater treatment, classical biological nutrient removal processes are energy-intensive and typically configured for optimal nitrogen or phosphorus removal, but not both. As a result, these processes do not always meet the desired removal efficiency [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In view of environmental concerns, solutions which can effectively and simultaneously address the related issues of CO 2 sequestration and enhanced wastewater nutrient removal are urgently needed; there is growing indication that processes incorporating microalgae may contribute to such optimization [ 7 ]. These photoautotrophs are capable of rapid CO 2 uptake and fixation via their photosynthetic metabolism, generating the energy-rich sugars needed to fuel cellular activities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This value-added quality of algal biomass can reduce or offset process-related costs. Although the range of allowable applications for waste-grown biomass remains somewhat restricted [ 16 ], further research and evidence-based policymaking focused on risk mitigation could lead to a paradigm in which microalgal CO 2 -sequestration, enhanced wastewater treatment, and biomass generation may be effectively combined [ 7 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interaction between CO2-consuming autotrophy and CO2-producing heterotrophy in non-axenic phototrophic biofilms

Ronan

Kroukamp²,

Liss³

et al. 2021

PLoS ONE

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As the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, the need for effective CO2 management is clear. Microalgae are well-suited for CO2 sequestration, given their ability to rapidly uptake and fix CO2. They also readily assimilate inorganic nutrients and produce a biomass with inherent commercial value, leading to a paradigm in which CO2-sequestration, enhanced wastewater treatment, and biomass generation could be effectively combined. Natural non-axenic phototrophic cultures comprising both autotrophic and heterotrophic fractions are particularly attractive in this endeavour, given their increased robustness and innate O2-CO2 exchange. In this study, the interplay between CO2-consuming autotrophy and CO2-producing heterotrophy in a non-axenic phototrophic biofilm was examined. When the biofilm was cultivated under autotrophic conditions (i.e. no organic carbon), it grew autotrophically and exhibited CO2 uptake. After amending its growth medium with organic carbon (0.25 g/L glucose and 0.28 g/L sodium acetate), the biofilm rapidly toggled from net-autotrophic to net-heterotrophic growth, reaching a CO2 production rate of 60 μmol/h after 31 hours. When the organic carbon sources were provided at a lower concentration (0.125 g/L glucose and 0.14 g/L sodium acetate), the biofilm exhibited distinct, longitudinally discrete regions of heterotrophic and autotrophic metabolism in the proximal and distal halves of the biofilm respectively, within 4 hours of carbon amendment. Interestingly, this upstream and downstream partitioning of heterotrophic and autotrophic metabolism appeared to be reversible, as the position of these regions began to flip once the direction of medium flow (and hence nutrient availability) was reversed. The insight generated here can inform new and important research questions and contribute to efforts aimed at scaling and industrializing algal growth systems, where the ability to understand, predict, and optimize biofilm growth and activity is critical.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Interaction between CO2-consuming autotrophy and CO2-producing heterotrophy in non-axenic phototrophic biofilms

Ronan

Kroukamp²,

Liss³

et al. 2021

PLoS ONE

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“…The use of algae grown in wastewater streams as a fertilizing product is manifested, but not well studied regarding P availability [26][27][28][29][30][31]. Still, some studies have shown that the strong cell wall of algae could delay P release from algal biomass [32][33][34][35][36]. Similarly, the application of crustacean waste for plant growth has also improved crop yield [37][38][39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Substrate-Driven Phosphorus Bioavailability Dynamics of Novel Inorganic and Organic Fertilizing Products Recovered from Municipal Wastewater—Tests with Ryegrass

et al. 2022

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Municipal wastewater is a valuable source of phosphorus (P) for the production of fertilizing products, such as microalgae (MA), crab carapace material (CCM), P salt produced by chemical leaching of sludge (P salt CL), and sewage sludge ash produced by pyrolysis and the incineration of sludge (SSA PI). This study compares the P availability of these fertilizing products in three planting substrates (S1, S2, and S3) during a four-month growth period of perennial ryegrass. The unfertilized control in substrate S3 had a high and available P that masked the effect of the added fertilizing products. The P salt CL fertilizer exhibited the lowest shoot dry matter in the alkaline S2 substrate. Still, it can be used as a good source of P in both acidic and alkaline substrates, given that its shoot P content was among the highest in all substrates tested. The organic-rich fertilizing products, MA and CCM, are better suited for acidic substrates since a pronounced reduction in the shoot yield and P content was seen in the alkaline S2 substrate. In contrast, for the SSA PI fertilizer, the very small differences in shoot dry matter and P content in S1 compared to S2 indicated that it is suitable for both acidic and alkaline substrates. Four months were needed to observe the maximum shoot yields treated with these P fertilizing products. Considering that the substrate solution P (using Rhizons) for the P salt CL and MA fertilizers proved to be similar to shoot P uptake, Rhizon extraction could be used for assessing P bioavailability. The chemical composition of novel products indicated their potential to deliver not only P, but also other nutrients to plants. However, concentrations of inorganic contaminants in all products, except CCM, pointed out a possibility to pollute the environment by applying these fertilizers.

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Mapping the performance of photobioreactors for microalgae cultivation: geographic position and local climate

Siqueira

Maroneze

Dias

et al. 2020

J of Chemical Tech & Biotech

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BACKGROUNDOver 90% of microalgae cultivations on a commercial scale are grown in outdoor systems, which means that the performance of these bioprocesses is dependent on the climatic conditions in each particular locality. Thus, the selection of suitable locations according to their climatic conditions is extremely important to develop technically and economically viable processes. This study aimed to assess the influence of geographic position and local climate on the microalgae culture performance in photobioreactors, as a strategy to map potential regions for commercial‐scale microalgae production. Six extreme positions of Brazil were chosen to represent their respective climates in the four seasons of the year.RESULTSThe climatic variables considered were temperature, light irradiance, and photoperiod. In terms of both biomass and lipid production in an annual overview, the results showed that tropical climates and low latitudes favor the microalgae culture. The highest annual average biomass productivity (0.278 g L−1 d−1) and annual average lipid productivity (0.056 g L−1 d−1) were recorded in Boa Vista‐RR (02° 49′ 12″ N), in summer.CONCLUSIONThe geographic position and the local climate are decisive criteria in the performance of these processes, being able to increase up to three and four times the biomass productivity and lipid productivity, respectively. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

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Feasibility of closing nutrient cycles from black water by microalgae-based technology

Cited by 29 publications

References 59 publications

Interaction between CO2-consuming autotrophy and CO2-producing heterotrophy in non-axenic phototrophic biofilms

Interaction between CO2-consuming autotrophy and CO2-producing heterotrophy in non-axenic phototrophic biofilms

Substrate-Driven Phosphorus Bioavailability Dynamics of Novel Inorganic and Organic Fertilizing Products Recovered from Municipal Wastewater—Tests with Ryegrass

Mapping the performance of photobioreactors for microalgae cultivation: geographic position and local climate

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