Integrated microalgae culture with food processing waste for wastewater remediation and enhanced biomass productivity

Abstract

Waste generation from food manufacturing facilities poses a serious hazard like environmental degradation, water pollution, and land pollution due to its high nutrient composition. Specifically, solid waste (powder) disposal requires additional energy sources in terms of scientific treatment, structured collection, and disposal packaging according to the safety regulation. Thus, this research discusses the viewpoint of integrating food processing waste as an organic carbon source with BG-11 medium for Chlorella vulgaris (FSP-E) growth. The food processing waste powders investigated in this study were obtained from milk, and biscuit manufacturing facilities. The culture medium was modified by combining both BG-11 and food processing waste powders to identify the optimal algal growth and biochemical content. Compared to the microalgae grown in BG-11 alone (IBG), the combination of biscuit waste and IBG produced higher biomass concentration (44%), with increased lipid (11%), protein (20%), and carbohydrate (57%) contents. Chlorella vulgaris was able to uptake nutrients from the culture medium with combination of food processing waste and IBG thus enhancing its growth. The results obtained also indicate that an integrated culture system using food processing waste and synthetic sources can generate energy out of waste by improving the bio-composition of the microalgae biomass.