Towards high-quality biodiesel production from microalgae using original and anaerobically-digested livestock wastewater

Abstract

In this study, we conducted proof-of-concept research towards the simultaneous treatment of livestock wastewater and the generation of high-quality biodiesel, through microalgae technology. Both original (OPE) and anaerobically-digested (DPE) piggery effluents were investigated for the culture of the microalgae, Desmodesmus sp. EJ8-10. After 14 days’ cultivation, the dry biomass from microalgae cultivated in OPE increased from an initial value of 0.01 g/L to 0.33–0.39 g/L, while those growing in DPE only achieved a final dried mass of 0.15–0.35 g/L, under similar initial ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) concentrations. The significantly higher microalgal biomass production achieved in the OPE medium may have been supported by the abundance of both macronutrient, such as phosphorus (P), and of micronutrients, such as trace elements, present in the OPE, which may not been present in similar quantities in the DPE. However, a higher lipid content was observed (19.4–28%) in microalgal cells from DPE cultures than those (18.7–22.3%) from OPE cultures. Moreover, the fatty acid compositions in the microalgae cultured in DPE contained high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and total C16–C18 acids, which would afford a superior potential for high-quality biodiesel production. The N/P ratio (15.4:1) in OPE was much closer to that indicated by previous studies to be the most suitable (16:1) for microalgae growth, when compared with that determined from the DPE culture medium. This may facilitate protein synthesis in the algal cells and induce a lower accumulation of lipids. Based on these findings, we proposed a new flowsheet for sustainable livestock waste management.