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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Comparison of Scale in a Photosynthetic Reactor System for Algal Remediation of Wastewater
Published on: March 6, 2017
Growth and nutrient removal in free and immobilized green algae in batch and semi-continuous cultures treating real
Alejandro Ruiz-Marin1, Leopoldo G Mendoza-Espinosa, Tom Stephenson
1Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad del Carmen, Calle 56 #4, Av., Concordia, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, CP 24180, Mexico. aruiz@pampano.unacar.mx
Abstract:
Two species of microalgae growing as immobilized and free-cells were compared to test its ability to remove N and P in batch cultures of urban wastewater. The best microalgae-cell growth configuration was selected to be tested in bioreactor operated in semi-continuous mode. Scenedesmus obliquus showed a higher N and P uptake rate in urban wastewater than Chlorella vulgaris. When tested in semi-continuous mode and with the re-calcification of beads, S. obliquus was more effective in removing N and P for longer periods (181 h) than batch cultures; fecal coliforms removal was good (95%) although the final concentration was still unsuitable for discharge to natural water bodies. Protein and lipids content analysis suggest that, from a practical point of view, immobilized systems could facilitate the separation of the biomass from the treated wastewater although in terms of nutritional value of the biomass, immobilized systems do not represent an advantage over free-cell systems.
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