Algal Systems for Resource Recovery from Waste and WastewaterOpen Access
This book provides comprehensive insights on existing technologies and up-to-date advances in the field of waste management and treatment using algal-based technologies via different approaches and systems.
Coverage includes:
Process fundamentals of algae-based wastewater treatment, including metabolic modelling, algal species for resource recovery and algae/bacteria interactions.
Critical insights on the status, major challenges and modern engineering solutions in microalgae-related wastewater treatment processes.
Case studies for coculturing microalgae with methanotrophs for enhanced nutrient recovery from wastewater.
Advanced ways for valorisation of algae-based processes by integrating them with other technologies such as anaerobic digestion, biogas upgradation and bioelectrochemical systems.
Up-to-date information on modern biotechnological approaches for deriving value-added bioproducts and biopolymers from microalgae, including biofuels, pigments and nutraceuticals.
This is an essential textbook for both undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in environmental sciences, technologies, or engineering. Additionally, the book is equally useful for a broad audience, including researchers, engineers, and policy makers interested in the field of algal systems for waste and wastewater management. The book is also tailored to be used as an advanced manual for practitioners and consultancies working in the field of wastewater treatment and resource recovery.
ISBN 9781789063530 (paperback)
ISBN 9781789063547 (eBook)
ISBN 9781789063554 (ePub)
Chapter 3: Wastewater treatment using microalgal–bacterial consortia in the photo-activated sludge process Open Access
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Published:December 2023
A. Rada-Ariza, C. Lopez-Vazquez, N. P. Van der Steen, P. N. L. Lens, 2023. "Wastewater treatment using microalgal–bacterial consortia in the photo-activated sludge process", Algal Systems for Resource Recovery from Waste and Wastewater, Piet N. L. Lens, Amitap Khandelwal
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Abstract
Nitrogen-rich wastewaters (10–400 mg N/L) are produced by municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes, including effluents from anaerobic treatment processes. These represent a risk to the environment due to the high nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorous), which can cause eutrophication of water bodies, deteriorating the quality of the ecosystems. As a solution, the nitrogen removal capacity of a novel bio-treatment system, the photo-activated sludge (PAS), composed of microalgae and bacteria consortia can be applied. Photobioreactors used for the simultaneous cultivation of microalgae and bacteria under sequencing batch conditions showed that microalgal–bacterial consortia can remove ammonium 50% faster than solely microalgal consortia. The increase in ammonium removal rates is due to the action of nitrifying bacteria, supplied with oxygen produced by the algae. The microalgal–bacterial system offers the possibility of reducing the hydraulic retention time, which can decrease the large area requirements often demanded by algal systems. The SRT is the main parameter to control the efficiency of the technology. The control of the suspended solids concentration, by adjusting the SRT, influences the light penetration within the reactor, which can limit or enhance the oxygen production of the algae. The photo-activated sludge system using microalgal–bacterial consortia is a sustainable treatment option for ammonium-rich wastewaters, providing clean effluents and opening reuse options for the biomass.