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Updated: Apr 4, 2026

Comparison of Scale in a Photosynthetic Reactor System for Algal Remediation of Wastewater
Published on: March 6, 2017
Trophic mode conversion and nitrogen deprivation of microalgae for high ammonium removal from synthetic wastewater
Jinghan Wang1, Wenguang Zhou2, Haizhen Yang3
1Center for Biorefining, Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Department, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, United States; Research Institute of Environmental Planning and Management, College of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
In this study, a well-controlled three-stage process was proposed for high ammonium removal from synthetic wastewater using selected promising microalgal strain UMN266. Three trophic modes (photoautotrophy, heterotrophy, and mixotrophy), two N sufficiency conditions (N sufficient and N deprived), two inoculum modes (photoautotrophic and heterotrophic), and different NH4(+)-N concentrations were compared to investigate the effect of trophic mode conversion and N deprivation on high NH4(+)-N removal by UMN266. Results showed that photoautotrophic inoculum with trophic mode conversion from heterotrophy to photoautotrophy and N deprivation in Stage 2 turned was the optimum plan for NH4(+)-N removal, and average removal rates were 12.4 and 19.1mg/L/d with initial NH4(+)-N of 80 and 160mg/L in Stage 3. Mechanism investigations based on algal biomass carbon (C) and N content, cellular composition, and starch content confirmed the above optimum plan and potential of UMN266 as bioethanol feedstock.
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