Algal biomass production by phosphorus recovery and recycling from wastewater using amorphous calcium silicate hydrates

Abstract

The phosphorous supply crisis is a major challenge for a sustainable society, and the algal industry is not unrelated to this crisis. Recycling phosphorus from sewage wastewater is a potential way to address this issue. We previously developed amorphous calcium silicate hydrates (aCSH) as excellent phosphorus recovery materials. In this study, we designed a phosphorus recovery process using aCSH in a pilot-scale facility connected to a sewage wastewater treatment plant, and demonstrated the production of microalgal biomass using phosphorous-containing aCSH (P_aCSH). As a result, high phosphorous recovery rates (>80%) were obtained throughout the year. The carbohydrate-rich microalga Pseudoneochloris sp. NKY372003 was cultivable with P_aCSH. The biomass and carbohydrate productivity of this microalga with P_aCSH was comparable to that with conventional media. Approximately 94% of the phosphorus in P_aCSH was recycled into the biomass. This study successfully demonstrated the recycling the phosphorus recovered from wastewater for microalgal cultivation by aCSH.