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Construction and Setup of a Bench-scale Algal Photosynthetic Bioreactor with Temperature, Light, and pH Monitoring for Kinetic Growth Tests
Published on: June 14, 2017
Continuous antibiotic attenuation in algal membrane photobioreactor: Performance and kinetics
Claude Kiki1, Xin Ye2, Xi Li2
1CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100043, China; National Institute of Water, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP: 526 Cotonou, Benin.
Freshwater microalgae in membrane photobioreactors effectively remove antibiotics and nutrients. Haematococcus pluvialis showed the highest antibiotic removal efficiency, with biodegradation as the primary mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Antibiotic pollution poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems.
- Conventional wastewater treatment methods struggle with efficient antibiotic removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of four freshwater microalgae in membrane photobioreactors (MPBRs) for continuous removal of mixed antibiotics and nutrients.
- To identify the primary removal pathways and kinetics of antibiotics in algal-MPBRs (AMPBRs).
Main Methods:
- Laboratory-scale MPBRs were operated with four microalgae species: Haematococcus pluvialis, Selenastrum capricornutum, Scenedesmus quadricauda, and Chlorella vulgaris.
- Continuous flow experiments were conducted at varying hydraulic retention times (HRTs).
- Antibiotic removal efficiencies, pathways (biodegradation, bioadsorption, bioaccumulation, membrane rejection, abiotic), bacterial features, and removal kinetics were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Haematococcus pluvialis demonstrated the highest antibiotic removal efficiency (53.57%-96.33%).
- Biodegradation was identified as the major antibiotic removal pathway in AMPBRs.
- System performance was enhanced at a 24-hour HRT.
- Stover-Kincannon and Grau second-order models accurately described the antibiotic removal kinetics.
Conclusions:
- Algal-MPBRs, particularly with H. pluvialis, show significant potential for continuous antibiotic removal from wastewater.
- Biodegradation is the key mechanism, highlighting the role of microalgae in mitigating antibiotic pollution.
- The study provides a valuable reference for optimizing AMPBR systems for antibiotic removal.
