Kinetic study of nutrients removal from municipal wastewater by Chlorella vulgaris in photobioreactor supplied with CO2-enriched air. Issue 5 (23rd February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chaudhary, Ramjee; Tong, Yen Wah; Dikshit, Anil Kumar
• Is Part Of: Environmental technology. Volume 41:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 617
• Page End: 626
• Publication Date: 2020-02-23
• Subjects: Chlorella vulgaris -- kinetic study -- municipal wastewater -- nutrient bioremediation -- photobioreactor; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; 628.05
• DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2018.1508250
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-3330

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The microalgae Chlorella vulgaris ATCC 13482 was used in the present study for municipal wastewater treatment. Batch experiments were performed in bubble column photobioreactors of 7 L working volume maintained at 25 ± 2°C and 14 h/10 h of photo and dark cycle. The treatment process was enhanced by using CO2 -augmented air (5% CO2 v/v) supply into the microalgal culture in comparison to the use of normal air (0.03% CO2 v/v). For a period of 7 days, C. vulgaris effected maximum removals of 74.4% soluble fraction of chemical oxygen demand, 72% ammonia (NH4 –N), 60% nitrate (NO3 –N) and 81.93% orthophosphate (PO4 –P) with use of normal air, whereas 84.6% sCOD, 88% NH4 –N, 72% NO3 –N and 92.8% PO4 –P removals, respectively, with use of 5% CO2 /air supply. Using kinetic study data, the specific rates of ammonia and phosphate uptake ( q ammonia and q phosphate ) by C. vulgaris at 5% CO2 /air supply were found to be 2.41 and 0.85 d −1, respectively. Using the algal remediation technology, nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium recovery from sewage treatment plant of 37.5 million litres per day wastewater influent capacity was calculated to be ∼298.5, 55.4 and 83.7 kg d −1, respectively. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: