Application of Aspergillus niger F5 as an alternative technique to harvest microalgae and as a phosphorous removal treatment for cassava biogas effluent wastewater. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Padri, Mohamad; Boontian, Nittaya; Teaumroong, Neung; Piromyou, Pongdet; Piasai, Chatlada
• Is Part Of: Journal of water process engineering. Volume 46(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Phosphate-solubilizing -- Fungal pellet -- Cassava biogas wastewater -- Phycoremediation; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Saline water conversion -- Periodicals; Seawater -- Distillation -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Sewage -- Purification -- Periodicals; 627
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2021.102524
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7144

Abstract

Abstract: Wastewater treatment using microalgae often produces effluents with unassimilated nutrients such as phosphorous with relatively high cost of harvesting process. The current study aims to develop a fungal pellet that solubilizes phosphate as a bio-adsorbent for enhancing microalgae harvesting process and additional removal of phosphorous to increase the harvestability of the algae and overcome the occurrence of unassimilated nutrients in the wastewater that often become problems in the algal-based wastewater treatment system. Isolated strains with phospate solubilizing activity, Aspergillus niger F5 and Aspergillus awamori F2, were found to show stable algal cells adsorption efficiency with less desoprtion as the increase of glucose concentration. Additional of A . niger F5 pellets after the total phosphorus (TP) concentration became stationary in cassava wastewater treatment using Chlorella vulgaris TISTR 8580 was found to significantly increase TP and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals. Another approach by co-culturing the A . niger F5 and C . vulgaris TISTR 8580 also increased the removal efficiencies but less effective in trapping algal cells. However, total nitrogen removal decreased with both methods of application. With 70% adsorption efficiency, the addition of A . niger F5 pellets after reaching the stationary phase of TP removal in monoculture of C . vulgaris TISTR 8580 demonstrated a promising result for harvesting and enhancing the nutrient removal purposes algal-fungal pellet application. Highlights: Fungal abilities to improve phycoremediation and its harvestability were demonstrated. Complete advantages from fungi and algae co-culture were achieved simultaneously. Phosphate solubilizing fungi significantly increases algal phosphate removal efficiency. Optimum result of co-culture was achieved by adding fungi in the stationary phase. Pellet and algae addition before wastewater treatment decreased nitrogen removal.