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Nutrient recovery from wastewaters by microalgae and its potential application as bio-char
Francisca M Santos1, José C M Pires1
1Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia (LEPABE), Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Bioresource Technology
|August 8, 2018
Summary
Recovering nutrients from wastewater using microalgae and converting biomass into bio-char offers a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. This approach recycles essential nutrients and enhances crop uptake efficiency, minimizing environmental impact.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Intensive agriculture drives demand for chemical fertilizers, produced unsustainably.
- Current fertilizers have low crop uptake efficiency, causing nutrient loss and environmental issues.
- There is a critical need for sustainable fertilizer alternatives that improve nutrient use and reduce ecological harm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the process of nutrient recovery from wastewater via microalgal cultivation.
- To examine the conversion of microalgal biomass into bio-char for soil amendment.
- To assess the combined benefits for nutrient recycling and enhanced crop nutrient uptake.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of microalgal cultivation for nutrient recovery from wastewater.
- Analysis of biomass conversion techniques into bio-char.
- Evaluation of bio-char's efficacy as a soil amendment for nutrient uptake.
Main Results:
- Microalgae effectively recover nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, facilitating nutrient recycling.
- Conversion of microalgal biomass yields bio-char suitable for soil application.
- Bio-char application to soil has the potential to improve crop nutrient uptake efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Microalgal-based nutrient recovery from wastewater and subsequent biomass conversion to bio-char presents a circular economy approach.
- This sustainable method reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers and mitigates environmental pollution.
- The integrated process offers a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture and resource management.
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