Combining urban wastewater treatment with biohydrogen production – An integrated microalgae-based approach. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Batista, Ana Paula; Ambrosano, Lucas; Graça, Sofia; Sousa, Catarina; Marques, Paula A.S.S.; Ribeiro, Belina; Botrel, Elberis P.; Castro Neto, Pedro; Gouveia, Luisa
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 184(2015)
• Page Start: 230
• Page End: 235
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Microalgae -- Wastewater treatment -- Biohydrogen -- Dark fermentation; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.064
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Efficient treatment of urban wastewater with microalgae. Energetic valorization of microalgae biomass. Production of biohydrogen through dark fermentation using Enterobacter aerogenes . Fermentation kinetics monitored and fitted to a modified Gompertz model. Highest bioH2 production yield (56.8 mL H2 /gVS ) obtained for Scenedesmus obliquus . Abstract: The aim of the present work was the simultaneous treatment of urban wastewater using microalgae and the energetic valorization of the obtained biomass. Chlorella vulgaris ( Cv ), Scenedesmus obliquus ( Sc ) and a naturally occurring algal Consortium C ( ConsC ) were grown in an urban wastewater. The nutrient removals were quite high and the treated water fits the legislation (PT Dec-Lei 236/98) in what concerns the parameters analysed (N, P, COD). After nutrient depletion the microalgae remained two more weeks in the photobioreactor (PBR) under nutritional stress conditions, to induce sugar accumulation (22–43%). The stressed biomass was converted into biohydrogen (bioH2 ), a clean energy carrier, through dark fermentation by a strain of the bacteria Enterobacter aerogenes . The fermentation kinetics were monitored and fitted to a modified Gompertz model. The highest bioH2 production yield was obtained for S. obliquus (56.8 mL H2 /gVS ) which was very similar when using the same algae grown in synthetic media.