Algal-bacterial Photobioreactor Research Articles

Assessing nitrous oxide emissions from algal-bacterial photobioreactors devoted to biogas upgrading and digestate treatment

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in High Rate Algal Ponds (HRAP) can negatively affect the sustainability of algal-bacterial processes. N2O emissions from a pilot HRAP devoted to biogas upgrading and digestate treatment were herein monitored for 73 days. The influence of the pH (7.5, 8.5, and 9.5), nitrogen sources (100 mg L−1 of N–NO2-, N–NO3-, and N–NH4+) and illumination on N2O emissions from the algal-bacterial biomass of the HRAP was also assessed in batch tests. Significantly higher N2O gas concentrations of 311.8 ± 101.1 ppmv were recorded in the dark compared to the illuminated period (236.9 ± 82.6 ppmv) in the HRAP. The batch tests revealed that the highest N2O emission rates (49.4 mmol g−1 TSS·h−1) occurred at pH 8.5 in the presence of 100 mg N–NO2-/L under dark conditions. This study revealed significant N2O emissions in HRAPs during darkness.

Influence of carbon-coated zero-valent iron-based nanoparticle concentration on continuous photosynthetic biogas upgrading

This study assessed the influence of carbon-coated zero-valent nanoparticle concentration (70, 140 and 280 mg L−1) on the performance of photosynthetic biogas upgrading in an indoor pilot scale plant composed of an algal-bacterial photobioreactor interconnected to an external biogas absorption column. In addition, the influence of nanoparticle concentration on the abiotic CO2 gas-liquid mass transfer in the biogas absorption column was also evaluated. Microalgae productivity was enhanced by > 100 % when nanoparticles were added to the cultivation broth, which also boosted nitrogen and phosphorus assimilation from centrate. The biomethane produced complied with most international standards only when nanoparticles were supplemented, achieving CO2 concentrations < 1 % (CO2 removal efficiencies > 98 %) and CH4 concentrations > 94 % in the treated biogas. Finally, this research consistently demonstrated that the improvement of biogas upgrading performance by the addition of nanoparticles was based on a photosynthesis enhancement or stimulation (which significantly increased the pH in the algal cultivation broth) rather than on an improved nanoparticle-mediated CO2 capture in the biogas absorption column.

Phenol and nitrogen removal in microalgal–bacterial granular sequential batch reactors

AbstractBACKGROUNDMicroalgal–bacterial systems work on the principle of the symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria. The ability of algal–bacterial photobioreactors for the treatment of wastewater containing ammonia and phenol has been poorly addressed. In this work a self‐sustaining synergetic microalgal–bacterial granular sludge process was thus developed to treatment of industrial wastewater based upon the low cost of photosynthetic oxygenation and the simultaneous phenol and nitrogen removal. The performance of a conventional sequential batch reactor (SBR) based on aerobic bacterial communities (SBRB) and a microalgal–bacterial granular SBR (SBRMB) were comparatively assessed. The major challenges associated with microalgal–bacterial systems were discussed.RESULTSA complete removal of phenol (100 mg L−1) was achieved in both reactors. The reactors SBRB and SBRMB showed similar performance in term of removal of inorganic nitrogen. Nitrogen mass balances estimated nitrogen assimilation, nitrification and denitrification. Higher simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (70% SND) occurred in SBRB as determined by mass balances. The higher nitrogen assimilation (17.9%) by the microalgal–bacterial biomass compensated the lower denitrifying activity in SBRMB (54% SND), resulting in a removal of inorganic nitrogen (61%) similar to that obtained in SBRB (66%). N2O was not detected in the headspace of any system.CONCLUSIONGranular microalgal–bacterial consortia implemented in SBR constitute an efficient method for industrial wastewater treatment achieving complete removal of ammonia and phenol. The application of SBRMB would be more cost effective than SBRB mainly due to the significant energy savings in SBRMB resulting in a sustainable system that contributes to the circular bioeconomy. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley &amp; Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Advanced treatment of toluene emissions with a cutting-edge algal bacterial photo-bioreactor: Performance assessment in a circular economy perspective

A novel approach for the treatment of VOCs (by using toluene used as a model compound) and the simultaneous conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable biomass has been investigated by using a combination of an activated sludge moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) and an algal photo-bioreactor (PBR).The first unit (MBBR, R1) promoted toluene removal up to 99.9 % for inlet load (IL) of 119.91 g m−3 d−1. The CO2 resulting from the degradation of toluene was then fixed in PBR (R2), with a fixation rate up to 95.8 %. The CO2 uptake was promoted by algae, with average production of algal biomass in Stage VI of 1.3 g L−1 d−1. In the contest of the circular economy, alternative sources of nutrients have been assessed, using synthetic urban wastewater (UWW) and dairy wastewater (DWW) for liquid renewal. The produced biomass with DWW showed a high lipid content, with a maximum productivity of 450.25 mg of lipids L−1 d−1. The solution proposed may be thus regarded as a sustainable and profitable strategy for VOCs treatment in a circular economy perspective.

Photosynthetic upgrading of biogas from anaerobic digestion of mixed sludge in an outdoors algal-bacterial photobioreactor at pilot scale

Anaerobic digestion can biotransform the biodegradable fraction of sewage sludge into biogas, while the symbiotic action of algal-bacterial consortia can remove both the CO2 and H2S from biogas and nutrients from digestate. A 100 L anaerobic digester operated at 20 days of retention time coupled with a 180 L high-rate algal pond (HRAP) engineered to upgrade the biogas and treat the liquid fraction of the pilot digester was optimized along four operational stages: (I) operation with a greenhouse during winter; (II) operation without greenhouse; (III) process supplementation with NaHCO3; (IV) process supplementation with Na2CO3. The biogas produced was composed of 63.7 ± 2.9% CH4, 33.7 ± 1.9% CO2, 0.5 ± 0.3% O2 and 1.6 ± 1.1% N2. An average methane productivity of 324.7 ± 75.8 mL CH4 g VSin−1 and total COD removals of 48 ± 20% were recorded in the digester. The CH4 concentration in the biomethane gradually decreased to 87.6 ± 2.0% and 85.1 ± 1.3% at the end of stage I and II, respectively, attributed to the loss of inorganic carbon in the HRAP. The supplementation of NaHCO3 and Na2CO3 mediated an increase in the CH4 content to 90.4 ± 1.5 and 91.2 ± 0.7% in stages III and IV, respectively. Steady state CO2 removals of 90% and 88% in stages I and II, and 95.7 and 97.6% in stages III and IV, respectively, were recorded. A constant biomass productivity of 22 g m−2 d−1, set by daily harvesting 26.5 g dry algal-bacterial biomass from the bottom of the settler, was maintained concomitantly with a complete removal of the N and P supplied via centrate.

Anaerobic digestion of food waste coupled with biogas upgrading in an outdoors algal-bacterial photobioreactor at pilot scale

This work aimed at integrating the anaerobic digestion of food waste (FW) with photosynthetic biogas upgrading at pilot scale in order to obtain a high quality biomethane and a nutrient-laden algal biomass as the main byproducts from FW treatment. The performance of a 100 L anaerobic digester treating food waste integrated via raw biogas and digestate injection with a 1.2 m2 outdoors high-rate algal pond (HRAP) was evaluated. Biogas production in the digester averaged 790 ± 89 mL g VSin-1 (68 ± 8 L d-1) (35 °C, 1 bar) at a loading rate of 0.86 g VS L-1 d-1 and a steady state chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency of 83 ± 7%. The biogas produced (60% CH4 / 39% CO2) was upgraded in a 2.5 L absorption column interconnected with the HRAP via culture broth recirculation at a liquid to biogas ratio of 2, resulting in a maximum CO2 removal efficiency of 90% and a maximum CH4 content of 93.9%. The HRAP, supplied with the centrifuged liquid digestate supplemented with synthetic wastewater (5.0 ± 1.1 L d-1, Total nitrogen (TN) = 793 ± 110 mg N L-1, P-PO43- = 39 ± 19 mg P L-1), supported TN and total phosphorus maximum removal efficiencies of 100% in both cases. Pseudoanabaena sp. and Chlorella vulgaris were identified as the dominant species.

Influence of the hydraulic retention time on the removal of emerging contaminants in an anoxic-aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor coupled with anaerobic digestion

This work evaluated, for the first time, the performance of an integral microalgae-based domestic wastewater treatment system composed of an anoxic reactor and an aerobic photobioreactor, coupled with an anaerobic digester for converting the produced algal-bacterial biomass into biogas, with regards to the removal of 16 contaminants of emerging concern (CECs): penicillin G, tetracycline, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, tylosin, trimethoprim, dexamethasone, ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, diclofenac, progesterone, carbamazepine, triclosan and propylparaben. The influence of the hydraulic retention time (HRT) in the anoxic-aerobic bioreactors (4 and 2.5 days) and in the anaerobic digester (30 and 10 days) on the fate of these CECs was investigated. The most biodegradable contaminants (removal efficiency >80% regardless of HRT) were tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, tylosin, trimethoprim, dexamethasone, ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen and propylparaben (degraded predominantly in the anoxic-aerobic bioreactors), and tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, tylosin, trimethoprim and naproxen (degraded predominantly in the anaerobic reactor). The anoxic-aerobic bioreactors provided removal of at least 48% for all CECs tested. The most recalcitrant contaminants in the anaerobic reactor, which were not removed at any of the HRT tested, were enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, progesterone and propylparaben.

Evaluation of eventual toxicities of treated textile wastewater using anoxic-aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor.

Water pollution is one of the major challenges and is of serious concern in the world. Toxicities generated by industrial activities severely deteriorate aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems during their uncontrolled discharge and accentuate water scarcity problems. An adequate treatment of released effluents seems to be mandatory. This study investigated the effect of synthetic textile wastewater (STWW) before and after an innovative algal-bacterial treatment occurred under anoxic-aerobic conditions on growth and mineral contents of radish plants. The health risk assessment was performed after the consumption of irrigated plants by rats. Results revealed a significant reduction in heavy metals content in plants irrigated with treated STWW, and rats fed with these plants showed normal health status. Rats fed with plants irrigated with raw STWW showed a disturbance of their homeostasis. The innovative treatment using algal-bacteria under anoxic-aerobic conditions succeeds to reduce the toxicity of raw STWW and provide an alternative water resource able to tackle water shortage.

Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Coupled with Biogas Upgrading in an Outdoors Algal-Bacterial Photobioreactor at Pilot Scale

Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Coupled with Biogas Upgrading in an Outdoors Algal-Bacterial Photobioreactor at Pilot Scale

Optimization of Photosynthetic Upgrading of Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Sludge in an Outdoors Algal-Bacterial Photobioreactor at Pilot Scale

Optimization of Photosynthetic Upgrading of Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Sludge in an Outdoors Algal-Bacterial Photobioreactor at Pilot Scale

Influence of biogas supply regime on photosynthetic biogas upgrading performance in an enclosed algal-bacterial photobioreactor

Photosynthetic biogas upgrading has recently emerged as an alternative to physical/chemical technologies in order to decrease the energy demand and environmental impact of biomethane production. Despite enclosed photobioreactors (PBRs) provide higher photosynthetic efficiency and CO2 capture capacity than open ponds, the number of studies of PBRs devoted to biogas upgrading is scarce. The effect of biogas supply regime (12 h feeding during the light period vs 24 h feeding during the light and dark periods) on biomethane quality and biochemical biomass composition was evaluated in a 132 L Tubular-PBR interconnected to a 2.5 L biogas scrubbing column operated at high alkalinity. Process operation at a biogas flow rate of 14.4 L d−1 during the light period supported a biomethane composition of 95.9 ± 1.3% v/v of CH4, 2.5 ± 0.8% v/v of CO2, 1.4 ± 0.6% v/v of N2, 0.1 ± 0.1% v/v of O2, and negligible H2S concentrations. On the contrary, CH4 and CO2 concentrations of 88.8 ± 1.6% v/v and 9.3 ± 1.1% v/v, respectively, were recorded when biogas was continuously supplied (28.8 L d−1). The oxygenation capacity of the PBR during the light period was sufficient to oxidize NH4+ to NO3−, which was further used during the dark period to oxidize H2S and prevent microalgae inhibition. Biomass productivity and composition remained constant regardless of the biogas supply regime, with a slight increase in carbohydrate content from 23.6 ± 5.7% (12 h supply) to 30.9 ± 3.5% (continuous supply).

Influence of the Hydraulic Retention Time on the Removal of Emerging Contaminants in an Anoxic-Aerobic Algal-Bacterial Photobioreactor Coupled with Anaerobic Digestion

Influence of the Hydraulic Retention Time on the Removal of Emerging Contaminants in an Anoxic-Aerobic Algal-Bacterial Photobioreactor Coupled with Anaerobic Digestion

Evaluation of the effect of reaction time on nutrients removal from secondary effluent of wastewater: Field demonstrations using algal-bacterial photobioreactors.

Real field demonstrations to assess the removal efficiency of nutrients and organic matter from domestic wastewater were carried out using algal-bacterial photobioreactors. The reactors which consisted of three basins of 200 L were fed with secondary effluent of domestic wastewater and operated under natural day light/dark cycles. The results demonstrated that reaction time (RT) has a substantial role on the whole process performance. Whereas inoculation with nitrifiers affected the process only in some aspects. The enhancement in the dissolved oxygen production rate (1.15 mg O2. L−1.h−1) was in alignment with growing higher algal biomass concentrations due to the increase in RT. COD removal rates were significantly increased (p < 0.05) with increasing the RT, and removal rates of 27%, 46% and 50% were obtained under RTs of 2, 3 and 4hrs. respectively. Meanwhile, 30%, 84% and 95% of the phosphorus was removed under the same studied RTs. No significant effect was recorded due to the addition of nitrifying bacteria on the removal of both COD and phosphorus. Ammonium (NH4+-N) removal rates were also increased with increasing RT and by the addition of nitrifiers, such that removal rates of 13%, 21% and 31% were obtained in basins inoculated with nitrifiers, but 11%, 14% and 19.5% were obtained in non-inoculated basins under RT of 2, 3, and 4 hrs. respectively. These results provide some new insights into algal-bacterial symbiosis systems under real field conditions which could be helpful for further process development.

Innovative operational strategies in photosynthetic biogas upgrading in an outdoors pilot scale algal-bacterial photobioreactor

Three innovative operational strategies were successfully evaluated to improve the quality of biomethane in an outdoors pilot scale photobioreactor interconnected to an external absorption unit: i) the use of a greenhouse during winter conditions, ii) a direct CO2 stripping in the photobioreactor via air stripping during winter conditions and iii) the use of digestate as make-up water during summer conditions. CO2 concentrations in the biomethane ranged from 0.4% to 6.1% using the greenhouse, from 0.3% to 2.6% when air was injected in the photobioreactor and from 0.4% to 0.9% using digestate as make up water. H2S was completely removed under all strategies tested. On the other hand, CH4 concentrations in biomethane ranged from 89.5% to 98.2%, from 93.0% to 98.2% and from 96.3% to 97.9%, when implementing strategies i), ii) and iii), respectively. The greenhouse was capable of maintaining microalgae productivities of 7.5 g m−2 d−1 during continental weather conditions, while mechanical CO2 stripping increased the pH in order to support an effective CO2 and H2S removal. Finally, the high evaporation rates during summer conditions allowed maintaining high inorganic carbon concentrations in the cultivation broth using centrate, which provided a cost-effective biogas upgrading.

Strategies for N2 and O2 removal during biogas upgrading in a pilot algal-bacterial photobioreactor

Photosynthetic biogas upgrading in algal-bacterial photobioreactors interconnected to external absorption columns has been proven as a feasible, low cost and environmentally friendly technology, ensuring a high removal performance of the main biogas contaminants (i.e., CO2 and H2S). However, despite the promising results, the upgraded biogas is commonly contaminated with N2 and O2 desorbed from the cultivation broth, which limits biomethane applications. In this work, two innovative strategies to improve the quality of biomethane were evaluated: degasification of the cultivation broth by means of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) gas-liquid membrane, and biogas scrubbing at high pressure. The hollow fiber PDMS membrane demonstrated a superior degassing performance at 100–300 mbar of vacuum pressure, exhibiting dissolved oxygen removals of 61.7 ± 7.8% in the cultivation broth and reducing N2 and O2 concentrations in the upgraded biomethane to ~0.8 and ~0.1%, respectively. On the other hand, biogas scrubbing at 2 atm (over atmospheric pressure) promoted CO2 and H2S mass transfer from the biogas to the recirculating broth, achieving removals of ~98% and 100%, respectively, and N2 and O2 concentrations in the biomethane of ~1.7 and ~0.1%, respectively. Both strategies provided a biomethane composition complying with most international standards for utilization as vehicle fuel or injection into natural gas grids.

Municipal wastewater treatment by semi-continuous and membrane algal-bacterial photo-bioreactors

Conventional wastewater treatment systems demand a high cost mechanical aeration. Using algal-bacterial systems helps to reach a cost-efficient treatment method by eliminating mechanical aeration, since algae produce the oxygen needed for treatment process. In this study, two groups of experiments were performed for domestic wastewater treatment processes. For the first group, semi-continuous microalgae-bacterial photo-bioreactors were cultivated. Chlorella Vulgaris and activated sludge (AS) were used as microalgae and bacterial inoculums, respectively. The effect of different algae and AS ratios on the chemical oxygen demand (COD), N-NH4+ and P-PO43− removal was studied. The removal efficiency of COD was above 93 % for the three tested algae and AS inoculum ratios (5:1, 1:1, and 1:5). The reactor with algae: AS inoculum ratio of 5:1 achieved the highest final N-NH4+ and P-PO43− removal efficiencies (88.0 ± 1.0 % and 84.0 ± 1.0 %, respectively). Furthermore, the highest biomass concentration (1.96 g L-1 from initial amount of 0.3 g L-1) was observed in the reactor with algae: AS ratio of 5:1. The ratio of 5:1 (algae: AS) was found as the optimum ratio which promoted the cooperation between microalgae and AS for nutrient removal. For the second group of experiments, the optimum ratio of 5:1 (algae: AS) was used in a membrane bioreactor, and the results showed that this reactor enhanced the final removal efficacies from 88 to 98 % and from 84 to 89 % for N-NH4+ and P-PO43-, respectively.

Assessing the influence of the hydraulic retention time and carbon/nitrogen ratio on urban wastewater treatment in a new anoxic-aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor configuration

The influence of the hydraulic retention time (HRT) (2 and 4 days) and the carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N) (7, 8 and 9) of the wastewater on the treatment of synthetic domestic wastewater was evaluated in a new anoxic-aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor configuration operated at solids retention time of 10 d by biomass recycling and withdrawal. The removal of chemical oxygen demand remained between 84% and 89% regardless of the operational conditions. However, the decrease in the HRT from 4 to 2 d entailed reductions in the removal of total nitrogen (TN) and P-PO43− from 87±2% to 62±2% and from 22±5% to 11±1%, respectively. On the other hand, the decrease in the C/N ratio of the wastewater from 9 to 8 and 7 at a HRT of 2 d induced TN removals of 62±4% and 48±4%, respectively. In contrast, P-PO43- removals unexpectedly increased from 11±1% at a C/N ratio of 9 to 53±3% and 47±5% at C/N ratios of 8 and 7, respectively. Finally, biomass settling and recycling supported the enrichment of an algal-bacterial population with good settleability characteristics (suspended solids removals in the settler ∼98%), being Chlorella vulgaris the dominant microalga specie at a C/N ratio of 9 which was gradually replaced by Phormidium sp., as a result of the reduction in the C/N ratio of the wastewater.

Decolorization and phytotoxicity reduction in an innovative anaerobic/aerobic photobioreactor treating textile wastewater

The potential of a novel anaerobic/aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor for the treatment of synthetic textile wastewater (STWW) was here assessed. Algal-bacterial symbiosis supported total organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous removal efficiencies of 78 ± 2%, 47 ± 2% and 26 ± 2%, respectively, at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 8 days. A decrease in the HRT from 8 to 4 and 2 days resulted in a slight decrease in organic carbon and phosphate removal, but a sharp decrease in nitrogen removal. Moreover, an efficient decolorization of 99 ± 1% and 96 ± 3% for disperse orange-3 and of disperse blue-1, respectively, was recorded. The effective STWW treatment supported by the anaerobic/aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor was confirmed by the reduction in wastewater toxicity towards Raphanus sativus seed germination and growth. These results highlighted the potential of this innovative algal-bacterial photobioreactor configuration for the treatment of textile wastewater and water reuse.

Phycoremediation of wastewater using algal-bacterial photobioreactor: Effect of nutrient load and light intensity

The current study demonstrates the nutrient removal efficiency of algal-bacterial photobioreactors in the semi-batch mode for secondary treated domestic wastewater. The experiments were conducted to predict the optimum conditions for running a photobioreactor at a comparatively larger scale. The main focus was on optimizing illumination costs and nutrient removal efficiency to make reactor construction and operation economically viable. Chlorella vulgaris and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were used for the experiments. Various input parameters were varied, and nutrient removal efficiencies along with biomass, chlorophyll-a content, temperature, pH, alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, and dissolved oxygen were monitored. Model simulations were also run to confirm optimum performance. A maximum of ~25 mg l−1 N and ~10 mg l−1 P were found to be efficiently removed within 2 days hydraulic retention time (HRT), 9 h:3 h light: dark condition and 1543 μmol photons m2 s−1 light intensity. The results demonstrate superior nutrient removal efficiency than similar to previous studies.

Influence of liquid-to-biogas ratio and alkalinity on the biogas upgrading performance in a demo scale algal-bacterial photobioreactor

The influence of the liquid-to-biogas ratio (L/G) and alkalinity on methane quality was evaluated in a 11.7 m3 outdoors horizontal semi-closed tubular photobioreactor interconnected to a 45-L absorption column (AC). CO2 concentrations in the upgraded methane ranged from <0.1 to 9.6% at L/G of 2.0 and 0.5, respectively, with maximum CH4 concentrations of 89.7% at a L/G of 1.0. Moreover, an enhanced CO2 removal (mediating a decrease in CO2 concentration from 9.6 to 1.2%) and therefore higher CH4 contents (increasing from 88.0 to 93.2%) were observed when increasing the alkalinity of the AC cultivation broth from 42 ± 1 mg L−1 to 996 ± 42 mg L−1. H2S was completely removed regardless of the L/G or the alkalinity in AC. The continuous operation of the photobioreactor with optimized operating parameters resulted in contents of CO2 (<0.1%–1.4%), H2S (<0.7 mg m−3) and CH4 (94.1%–98.8%) complying with international regulations for methane injection into natural gas grids.