Phosphorus-supplemented seawater–wastewater cyclic system for microalgal cultivation: Production of high-lipid and high-protein algae

Abstract

The reuse of wastewater after seawater cultivation is critically important. In this study, a phosphorus-supplemented seawater–wastewater cyclic system (PSSWCS) based on Chlorella pyrenoidosa SDEC-35 was developed. With the addition of phosphorus, the algal biomass and the ability to assimilate nitrogen and carbon were improved. At the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio of 20:1, the biomass productivity per mass of nitrogen reached 3.6 g g−1 (N) day−1 in the second cycle. After the third cycle the protein content reached 35.7% of dry mass, and the major metabolic substances in PSSWCS reached the highest content level of 89.5% (35.7% protein, 38.3% lipid, and 15.5% carbohydrate). After the fourth cycle the lipid content maintained at 40.1%. Furthermore, 100.0% recovery of wastewater in PSSWCS increased the nitrogen and carbon absorption to 15.0 and 396.8 g per tonne of seawater. This study achieved seawater–wastewater recycle and produced high-lipid and high-protein algae by phosphorus addition.