Microalgae cultivation for treating agricultural effluent and producing value-added products

Alavianghavanini, Arsalan; Shayesteh, Hajar; Bahri, Parisa A.; Vadiveloo, Ashiwin; Moheimani, Navid R.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169369

Cited by 12 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 114 publications

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“…Their ability to thrive in wastewater environments enables the reduction of freshwater demand and the mitigation of costly nutrient inputs required for biomass production (Sutherland et al 2021). Using wastewater as an alternative cultivation medium can yield biomass rich in valuable and bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides (PS), fatty acids (FA), amino acids (AA), minerals, and vitamins, among other value-added biomolecules (Ferreira et al 2018;Ferreira et al 2019;Sutherland et al 2021; Koutra et al 2022;Ferreira et al 2023; Alavianghavanini et al 2024). Biomass and bioproducts from microalgae cultivated in wastewater are unsuitable for direct human consumption due to potential contamination risks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unlocking the potential of Euglena gracilis cultivated in piggery wastewater: biomass production, nutrient removal, and biostimulant potential in lettuce and tomato plants

Butzke,

Ferreira,

Corrêa

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Microalgae are increasingly recognized as a valuable resource for bolstering sustainability in agriculture. Yet, current research often overlooks the diversity of microalgae species. Euglena gracilis (Euglenophyta) is a microalga renowned for its resilience to diverse environmental stressors and capability to produce a variety of bioactive metabolites. This study investigated the potential of cultivating E. gracilis in piggery wastewater for nutrient recycling and as a source of beneficial biomolecules, particularly for biostimulant use. Utilizing raw wastewater diluted to 25% (P25) and pre-treated wastewater with photo-Fenton (PF), the research found that E. gracilis exhibited elevated cell density, biomass concentration, and overall cell health in both wastewaters compared to a synthetic medium (BG11-NPK). This was due to its efficient removal of nutrients, especially ammoniacal-nitrogen and phosphate, resulting in a biomass rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, and paramylon content. The whole-cell biomass significantly enhanced the germination index of lettuce and tomato seeds compared to the water control. Additionally, it promoted cell expansion and root formation in cucumber cotyledons, exhibiting similarities to phytohormones such as gibberellin, cytokinin, and auxin. Furthermore, it is suggested that E. gracilis biomass contains molecules related to resistance to environmental stresses, particularly in tomatoes, given the enhancement in the seedling vigor index. E. gracilis exhibited remarkable adaptability to piggery wastewater, recycling nutrients and yielding biomass rich in bioactive molecules with potential as plant biostimulants. These findings significantly contribute to understanding E. gracilis's potential applications in agriculture and developing a circular bioeconomy.

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