Production of Biomass (Algae-Bacteria) by Using a Mixture of Settled Swine and Sewage as Substrate

Abstract

This paper presents the use of a mixture of settled swine and sewage as substrate for biomass production, mainly constituted by microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and aerobic bacteria, growing outdoor at different dilution rates in a continuous mode. The experiments were carried out in 16-litre volume laboratory ponds operating at hydraulic retention times (HRT) in a range of 4–14 days equivalent to dilution rates (D) in a range of 0.250–0.071 d−1. Total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD), soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), total biochemical oxygen demand (TBOD5), total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), total Chlorophyll (Σ C), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorous, orthophosphate and pH were monitored. An empirical relationship between the dilution rate (D) and the removal efficiencies of TCOD, SCOD, TBOD5, TKN and total phosphorous was found. The occurrence of an inhibition process for TCOD, TBOD5, TKN and total phosphorous removals was observed. The Andrews kinetic model was successfully applied to these experimental data, while the Monod model was more suitable for studying the variation of the SCOD removal rate with the effluent SCOD concentration. The maximum microalgal biomass productivity was found to be in the range of 93–98 mg VSSA/L d (37.2–39.2 g/m2d) at dilution rates in the range of 0.167–0.250 d−1, where VSSA is the concentration of microalgae expressed in VSS. In the case of the bacteria, the productivity increased linearly with the dilution rate being maximum at a D value of 0.25 d−1. It was concluded that the mixture of pre-treated swine and sewage used as substrate, contributed to the obtention of a high biomass (microalgae-bacteria) production, providing a simple technology feasible to be applied in developing countries.