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Comparison of Scale in a Photosynthetic Reactor System for Algal Remediation of Wastewater
Published on: March 6, 2017
Effect of wastewater-borne bacteria on algal growth and nutrients removal in wastewater-based algae cultivation
Xiaochen Ma1, Wenguang Zhou2, Zongqiang Fu2
1Center for Biorefining, and Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Department, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA; Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, A3 Datun Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.
Abstract:
Centrate, a type of nutrient-rich municipal wastewater was used to determine the effect of wastewater-borne bacteria on algal growth and nutrients removal efficiency in this study. The characteristics of algal and bacterial growth profiles, wastewater nutrient removal and effect of initial algal inoculums were systematically examined. The results showed that initial algal concentration had apparent effect on bacterial growth, and the presence of bacteria had a significant influence on algal growth pattern, suggesting symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria at the initial stage of algae cultivation. The maximum algal biomass of 2.01 g/L with 0.1g/L initial algal inoculums concentration can be obtained during algae cultivation in raw centrate medium. The synergistic effect of centrate-borne bacteria and microalgae on algae growth and nutrient removal performance at initial fast growth stage has great potential to be applied to pilot-scale wastewater-based algae wastewater system cultivated in continuous or semi-continuous mode.
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