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Nordio R, Rodríguez-Miranda E, Casagli F, Sánchez-Zurano A, Guzmán JL, Acién G. ABACO-2: a comprehensive model for microalgae-bacteria consortia validated outdoor at pilot-scale. Water Res 2024; 248:120837. [PMID: 37984038 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Modelling microalgae-bacteria in wastewater treatment systems has gained significant attention in the last few years. In this study, we present an enhanced version of the ABACO model, named ABACO-2, which demonstrates improved accuracy through validation in outdoor pilot-scale systems. ABACO-2 enables the comprehensive characterization of microalgae-bacteria consortia dynamics, allowing to predict the biomass concentration (microalgae, heterotrophic bacteria, and nitrifying bacteria) and nutrient evolution. The updated version of the model incorporates new equations for nutrient coefficient yields, oxygen mass balance, and microorganism cellular decay, while significantly reducing the number of calibrated parameters, simplifying the parameter identification. Calibration and validation were performed using data from a 80 m2 raceway reactor operated in a semicontinuous mode over an extensive period (May to November, total of 206 days) at a fixed dilution rate of 0.2 day-1 (corresponding to 5 days of hydraulic retention time), where untreated urban wastewater was used as culture medium. ABACO-2 exhibited robustness, accurately forecasting biomass production, population dynamics, nutrient recovery, and prevailing culture conditions across a wide range of environmental and water composition conditions. Mathematical models are essential instruments for the industrial development and optimization of microalgae-related wastewater treatment processes, thereby contributing to the sustainability of the wastewater treatment industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Nordio
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain.
| | - Enrique Rodríguez-Miranda
- CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain; Department of Informatics, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Francesca Casagli
- Biocore, INRIA centre d'Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia-Antipolis F-06902, France
| | - Ana Sánchez-Zurano
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - José Luis Guzmán
- CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain; Department of Informatics, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
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Vassalle L, Ferrer I, Passos F, Filho CRM, Garfí M. Nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment and bioenergy recovery: A comparative Life Cycle Assessment. Sci Total Environ 2023; 880:163291. [PMID: 37023825 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the environmental impacts of up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors coupled with high rate algal ponds (HRAPs) for wastewater treatment and bioenergy recovery using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. This solution was compared with the UASB reactor coupled with other consolidated technologies in rural areas of Brazil, such as trickling filters, polishing ponds and constructed wetlands. To this end, full-scale systems were designed based on experimental data obtained from pilot/demonstrative scale systems. The functional unit was 1 m3 of water. System boundaries comprised input and output flows of material and energy resources for system construction and operation. The LCA was performed with the software SimaPro®, using the ReCiPe midpoint method. The results showed that the HRAPs scenario was the most environmentally friendly alternative in 4 out of 8 impact categories (i.e. Global warming, Stratospheric Ozone Depletion, Terrestrial Ecotoxicity and Fossil resource scarcity). This was associated with the increase in biogas production by the co-digestion of microalgae and raw wastewater, leading to higher electricity and heat recovery. From an economic point of view, despite the HRAPs showed a higher capital cost, the operation and maintenance costs were completely offset by the revenue obtained from the electricity generated. Overall, the UASB reactor coupled with HRAPS showed to be a feasible nature-based solution to be used in small communities in Brazil, especially when microalgae biomass is valorised and used to increase biogas productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Vassalle
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona, 1-3, Building D1, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Ivet Ferrer
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona, 1-3, Building D1, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fabiana Passos
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona, 1-3, Building D1, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Cesar Rossas Mota Filho
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marianna Garfí
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona, 1-3, Building D1, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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Rossi S, Carecci D, Ficara E. Thermal response analysis and compilation of cardinal temperatures for 424 strains of microalgae, cyanobacteria, diatoms and other species. Sci Total Environ 2023; 873:162275. [PMID: 36801411 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae and other phototrophic microorganisms can be cultivated to produce food and valuable bioproducts, also allowing to remove nutrients from wastewater and CO2 from biogas or polluted gas streams. Among other environmental and physico-chemical parameters, microalgal productivity is strongly influenced by the cultivation temperature. In this review, cardinal temperatures identifying the thermal response, i.e., the optimal growth condition (TOPT), and the lower and upper limits for microalgae cultivation (TMIN and TMAX), have been included in a structured and harmonized database. Literature data for 424 strains belonging to 148 genera of green algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms, and other phototrophs were tabulated and analysed, with a focus on the most relevant genera that are currently cultivated at the industrial scale in Europe. The dataset creation aimed at facilitating the comparison of different strain performances for different operational temperatures and assisting in the process of thermal and biological modelling, to reduce energy consumption and biomass production costs. A case study was presented, to illustrate the effect of temperature control on the energetic expenditure for cultivating different Chorella sp. strains under a greenhouse located in different European sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rossi
- Politecnico di Milano, DICA - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Section, P.zza L. da Vinci, 3, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - D Carecci
- Politecnico di Milano, DEIB - Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, P.zza L. da Vinci, 3, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - E Ficara
- Politecnico di Milano, DICA - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Section, P.zza L. da Vinci, 3, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Capson-Tojo G, Batstone DJ, Hülsen T. Expanding mechanistic models to represent purple phototrophic bacteria enriched cultures growing outdoors. Water Res 2023; 229:119401. [PMID: 36450178 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The economic feasibility of purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) for resource recovery relies on using enriched-mixed cultures and sunlight. This work presents an extended Photo-Anaerobic Model (ePAnM), considering: (i) the diverse metabolic capabilities of PPB, (ii) microbial clades interacting with PPB, and (iii) varying environmental conditions. Key kinetic and stoichiometric parameters were either determined experimentally (with dedicated tests), calculated, or gathered from literature. The model was calibrated and validated using different datasets from an outdoors demonstration-scale reactor, as well as results from aerobic and anaerobic batch tests. The ePAnM was able to predict the concentrations of key compounds/components (e.g., COD, volatile fatty acids, and nutrients), as well as microbial communities (with anaerobic systems dominated by fermenters and PPB). The results underlined the importance of considering other microbial clades and varying environmental conditions. The model predicted a minimum hydraulic retention time of 0.5 d-1. A maximum width of 10 cm in flat plate reactors should not be exceeded. Simulations showed the potential of a combined day-anaerobic/night-aerobic operational strategy to allow efficient continuous operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Capson-Tojo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Department of Chemical Engineering, CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia 15782, Spain; INRAE, University Montpellier, LBE, 102 Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne 11100, France.
| | - Damien J Batstone
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Tim Hülsen
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Oviedo JA, Muñoz R, Donoso-bravo A, Bernard O, Casagli F, Jeison D. A half-century of research on microalgae-bacteria for wastewater treatment. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Casagli F, Bernard O. How Heat Transfer Indirectly Affects Performance of Algae-Bacteria Raceways. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081515. [PMID: 35893573 PMCID: PMC9394337 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxygenation in wastewater treatment leads to a high energy demand. High-rate algal-bacterial ponds (HRABP) have often been considered an interesting solution to reduce this energy cost, as the oxygen is provided by microalgae during photosynthesis. These complex dynamic processes are subject to solar fluxes and consequently permanent fluctuations in light and temperature. The process efficiency therefore highly depends on the location and the period of the year. In addition, the temperature response can be strongly affected by the process configuration (set-up, water depth). Raised pilot-scale raceways are typically used in experimental campaigns, while raceways lying on the ground are the standard reactor configuration for industrial-scale applications. It is therefore important to assess what the consequences are for the temperature patterns of the different reactor configurations and the water levels. The long-term validated algae-bacteria (ALBA) model was used to represent algae-bacteria dynamics in HRABPs. The model was previously validated over 600 days of outdoor measurements, at two different locations and for the four seasons. However, the first version of the model, like all the existing algae-bacteria models, was not fully predictive, since, to be run, it required the measurement of water temperature. The ALBA model was therefore updated, coupling it with a physical model that predicts the temperature evolution in the HRABP. A heat transfer model was developed, and it was able to accurately predict the temperature during the year (with a standard error of 1.5 ∘C). The full predictive model, using the temperature predictions, degraded the model's predictive performances by less than 3%. N2O predictions were affected by ±7%, highlighting the sensitivity of nitrification to temperature The temperature response for two different process configurations were then compared. The biological process can be subjected to different temperature dynamics, with more extreme temperature events when the raceway does not lie on the ground and for thinner depths. Such a situation is more likely to lead to culture crashes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Casagli
- Biocore, Inria Centre at Université Côte d’Azur, INRAE, 2004 Route des Lucioles, 06902 Sophia-Antipolis, France;
- LOV (Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche), Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 7093, 181 Chem. du Lazaret, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
- Correspondence:
| | - Olivier Bernard
- Biocore, Inria Centre at Université Côte d’Azur, INRAE, 2004 Route des Lucioles, 06902 Sophia-Antipolis, France;
- LOV (Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche), Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 7093, 181 Chem. du Lazaret, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
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Sánchez-Zurano A, Rossi S, Fernández-Sevilla JM, Acién-Fernández G, Molina-Grima E, Ficara E. Respirometric assessment of bacterial kinetics in algae-bacteria and activated sludge processes. Bioresour Technol 2022; 352:127116. [PMID: 35398212 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Algae-bacteria (AB) consortia can be exploited for effective wastewater treatment, based on photosynthetic oxygenation to reduce energy requirements for aeration. While algal kinetics have been extensively evaluated, bacterial kinetics in AB systems are still based on parameters taken from the activated sludge models, lacking an experimental validation for AB consortia. A respirometric procedure was therefore proposed, to estimate bacterial kinetics in both activated sludge and AB, under different conditions of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and substrate availability. Bacterial activities were differently influenced by operational/environmental conditions, suggesting that the adoption of typical activated sludge parameters could be inadequate for AB modelling. Indeed, respirometric results show that bacteria in AB consortia were adapted to a wider range of conditions, compared to activated sludge, confirming that a dedicated calibration of bacterial kinetics is essential for effectively modelling AB systems, and respirometry was proven to be a powerful and reliable tool to this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sánchez-Zurano
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain, CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - S Rossi
- Politecnico di Milano, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, P.zza L. da Vinci, 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - J M Fernández-Sevilla
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain, CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - G Acién-Fernández
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain, CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - E Molina-Grima
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - E Ficara
- Politecnico di Milano, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, P.zza L. da Vinci, 32, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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Oruganti RK, Katam K, Show PL, Gadhamshetty V, Upadhyayula VKK, Bhattacharyya D. A comprehensive review on the use of algal-bacterial systems for wastewater treatment with emphasis on nutrient and micropollutant removal. Bioengineered 2022; 13:10412-10453. [PMID: 35441582 PMCID: PMC9161886 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2056823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The scarcity of water resources and environmental pollution have highlighted the need for sustainable wastewater treatment. Existing conventional treatment systems are energy-intensive and not always able to meet stringent disposal standards. Recently, algal-bacterial systems have emerged as environmentally friendly sustainable processes for wastewater treatment and resource recovery. The algal-bacterial systems work on the principle of the symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria. This paper comprehensively discusses the most recent studies on algal-bacterial systems for wastewater treatment, factors affecting the treatment, and aspects of resource recovery from the biomass. The algal-bacterial interaction includes cell-to-cell communication, substrate exchange, and horizontal gene transfer. The quorum sensing (QS) molecules and their effects on algal-bacterial interactions are briefly discussed. The effect of the factors such as pH, temperature, C/N/P ratio, light intensity, and external aeration on the algal-bacterial systems have been discussed. An overview of the modeling aspects of algal-bacterial systems has been provided. The algal-bacterial systems have the potential for removing micropollutants because of the diverse possible interactions between algae-bacteria. The removal mechanisms of micropollutants - sorption, biodegradation, and photodegradation, have been reviewed. The harvesting methods and resource recovery aspects have been presented. The major challenges associated with algal-bacterial systems for real scale implementation and future perspectives have been discussed. Integrating wastewater treatment with the algal biorefinery concept reduces the overall waste component in a wastewater treatment system by converting the biomass into a useful product, resulting in a sustainable system that contributes to the circular bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Oruganti
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, India
| | - Keerthi Katam
- Department of Civil Engineering, École Centrale School of Engineering, Mahindra University, India
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham, Malaysia
| | - Venkataramana Gadhamshetty
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid, South Dakota, USA
| | | | - Debraj Bhattacharyya
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, India
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Cho KH, Wolny J, Kase JA, Unno T, Pachepsky Y. Interactions of E. coli with algae and aquatic vegetation in natural waters. Water Res 2022; 209:117952. [PMID: 34965489 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Both algae and bacteria are essential inhabitants of surface waters. Their presence is of ecological significance and sometimes of public health concern triggering various control actions. Interactions of microalgae, macroalgae, submerged aquatic vegetation, and bacteria appear to be important phenomena necessitating a deeper understanding by those involved in research and management of microbial water quality. Given the long-standing reliance on Escherichia coli as an indicator of the potential presence of pathogens in natural waters, understanding its biology in aquatic systems is necessary. The major effects of algae and aquatic vegetation on E. coli growth and survival, including changes in the nutrient supply, modification of water properties and constituents, impact on sunlight radiation penetration, survival as related to substrate attachment, algal mediation of secondary habitats, and survival inhibition due to the release of toxic substances and antibiotics, are discussed in this review. An examination of horizontal gene transfer and antibiotic resistance potential, strain-specific interactions, effects on the microbial, microalgae, and grazer community structure, and hydrodynamic controls is given. Outlooks due to existing and expected consequences of climate change and advances in observation technologies via high-resolution satellite imaging, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), and mathematical modeling are additionally covered. The multiplicity of interactions among bacteria, algae, and aquatic vegetation as well as multifaceted impacts of these interactions, create a wide spectrum of research opportunities and technology developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Hwa Cho
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jennifer Wolny
- Division of Microbiology, Office of Regulatory Science, Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USA
| | - Julie A Kase
- Division of Microbiology, Office of Regulatory Science, Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USA
| | - Tatsui Unno
- College of Applied Life Science, Jeju National University, Republic of Korea
| | - Yakov Pachepsky
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USA.
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Vassalle L, Passos F, Rosa-Machado AT, Moreira C, Reis M, Pascoal de Freitas M, Ferrer I, Mota CR. The use of solar pre-treatment as a strategy to improve the anaerobic biodegradability of microalgal biomass in co-digestion with sewage. Chemosphere 2022; 286:131929. [PMID: 34463260 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable sewage treatment plants (STPs) have been intensively investigated in search for low-cost, environmental-friendly options. Anaerobic-aerobic treatment solutions, as upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors followed by high rate algal ponds (HRAP) have already proved to be efficient for pollutants and micropollutants removal, as well as for energy recovery from the co-digestion of raw sewage and microalgal biomass. Since microalgae cells have complex structures that make them resistant to anaerobic digestion, pre-treatment techniques may be applied to improve microalgal biomass solubilisation and methane yield. Among the thermal pre-treatments, the use of solar energy for biomass solubilisation has yet to be investigated. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the performance of a solar thermal microalgal biomass pre-treatment prior to the anaerobic co-digestion with raw sewage, comparing a UASB reactor feed only raw sewage and other UASB reactor feed with raw sewage and pre-treated microalgal biomass. The results showed that, the solar pre-treatment step reached an organic matter solubilisation of 32% (COD). Furthermore, the methane yield was increased by 45% (from 81 to 117 NL CH4 kg-1 COD), after the anaerobic co-digestion with pre-treated microalgae as compared to the mono-digestion of raw sewage, indicating significant difference between the evaluated UASB reactors. The energy assessment showed a positive energy balance, as the total energy produced was twice the energy consumed in the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Vassalle
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG, 6627, Brazil; GEMMA - Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, C/Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, Barcelona, 08034, Spain.
| | - Fabiana Passos
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG, 6627, Brazil.
| | - Alcino Trindade Rosa-Machado
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG, 6627, Brazil
| | - Camila Moreira
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG, 6627, Brazil
| | - Mariana Reis
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG, 6627, Brazil
| | - Matheus Pascoal de Freitas
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG, 6627, Brazil
| | - Ivet Ferrer
- GEMMA - Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, C/Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, Barcelona, 08034, Spain.
| | - César Rossas Mota
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG, 6627, Brazil.
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12
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Rueda E, García J. Optimization of the phototrophic Cyanobacteria polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by kinetic model simulation. Sci Total Environ 2021; 800:149561. [PMID: 34426369 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria can grow using inorganic substrates, such as CO2 from industrial sources and nutrients from wastewaters, and therefore are promising microorganisms to produce polyhydroxybutyrate in a cleaner circular context. However, this biotechnological production is highly challenging because it involves different interlinked reactions that are affected by environmental conditions, which hinders process optimization. In this study a new biokinetic mechanistic model using novel experimental approaches was developed to optimize polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and glycogen production. The model includes, for the first time, the production of glycogen and its conversion into PHB, which has been found as the main pathway to produce PHB. Model was successfully (r2: 0.6-0.99) calibrated and validated with experimental data from photobioreactors inoculated with Synechocystis sp. The developed model was used to determine suitable initial conditions for a lab scale batch reactor (6.4 mgN·L-1 and 2 mgP·L-1) and a new configuration for the continuous industrial production of PHB was proposed and optimized using this tool. The maximum productivity (5.1 mgPHB·L-1·d-1) and the optimal configuration and operation of the serial reactors to produce PHB in an industrial scale was achieved using a hydraulic retention time of 4 days in the growth reactor. Then, this reactor daily fed 20 batch accumulation reactors, which were discharged after 20 days. The optimal influent nutrients concentrations for this configuration was found to be 50 mgN·L-1 and 10 mgP·L-1. Results found in this study show the necessity to optimize biopolymers production with Cyanobacteria considering environmental conditions, and demonstrated the potential of this model as a tool to increase PHB productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estel Rueda
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Eduard Maristany 16, Building C5.1, E-08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan García
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, c/ Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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López-Pacheco IY, Castillo-Vacas EI, Castañeda-Hernández L, Gradiz-Menjivar A, Rodas-Zuluaga LI, Castillo-Zacarías C, Sosa-Hernández JE, Barceló D, Iqbal HMN, Parra-Saldívar R. CO 2 biocapture by Scenedesmus sp. grown in industrial wastewater. Sci Total Environ 2021; 790:148222. [PMID: 34380253 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions are widely related to climate change, triggering several environmental problems of global concern and producing environmental, social, and economic negative impacts. Therefore, global research seeks to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, the use of wastes under a circular economy scheme generates subproducts from the range of high to medium-value, representing a way to help sustainable development. Therefore, the use of wastewater as a culture medium to grow microalgae strains that biocapture environmental CO2, is a proposal with high potential to reduce the GHG presence in the environment. In this work, Scenedesmus sp. was cultivated using BG-11 medium and industrial wastewater (IWW) as a culture medium with three different CO2 concentrations, 0.03%, 10%, and 20% to determine their CO2 biocapture potential. Furthermore, the concomitant removal of COD, nitrates, and total phosphorus in wastewater was evaluated. Scenedesmus sp. achieves a biomass concentration of 1.9 g L-1 when is grown in BG-11 medium, 0.69 g L-1 when is grown in a combination of BG-11 medium and 25% of industrial wastewater; both cases with 20% CO2 supplied. The maximum CO2 removal efficiency (8.4%, 446 ± 150 mg CO2 L-1 day-1) was obtained with 10% CO2 supplied and using a combination of BG-11 medium and 50% IWW (T2). Also, the highest removal of COD was reached with a combination of BG-11 medium and T2 with a supply of 20% CO2 (82% of COD removal). Besides, the highest nitrates removal was achieved with a combination of BG-11 medium and 75% IWW (T3) with a supply of 10% CO2 (42% of nitrates removal) and the maximum TP removal was performed with the combination of BG-11 medium and 25% IWW (T1) with a supply of 10% CO2 (67% of TP removal). These results indicate that industrial wastewater can be used as a culture media for microalgae growth and CO2 biocapture can be performed as concomitant processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itzel Y López-Pacheco
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Israel Castillo-Vacas
- Escuela Agrícola Panamericana, Zamorano. Km 30 carretera de Tegucigalpa a Danlí, Valle del Yeguare, Municipio de San Antonio de Oriente, Francisco Morazán, Honduras, Apartado postal 93, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras
| | - Lizbeth Castañeda-Hernández
- Escuela Agrícola Panamericana, Zamorano. Km 30 carretera de Tegucigalpa a Danlí, Valle del Yeguare, Municipio de San Antonio de Oriente, Francisco Morazán, Honduras, Apartado postal 93, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras
| | - Angie Gradiz-Menjivar
- Escuela Agrícola Panamericana, Zamorano. Km 30 carretera de Tegucigalpa a Danlí, Valle del Yeguare, Municipio de San Antonio de Oriente, Francisco Morazán, Honduras, Apartado postal 93, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras; University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Scottsbluff, NE, USA
| | | | | | | | - Damià Barceló
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat de Girona, c/Emili Grahit, 101, Edifici H2O, 17003 Girona, Spain; College of Environmental and Resources Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Hafiz M N Iqbal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Mexico.
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Zurano AS, Serrano CG, Acién-Fernández FG, Fernández-Sevilla JM, Molina-Grima E. Modelling of photosynthesis, respiration, and nutrient yield coefficients in Scenedemus almeriensis culture as a function of nitrogen and phosphorus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:7487-7503. [PMID: 34519856 PMCID: PMC8494708 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11484-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Photo-respirometric tecniques are applied for evaluating photosynthetic activity in phototrophic organisms. These methods allow to evaluate photosynthetic response under different conditions. In this work, the influence of nutrient availability (nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate) on the photosynthesis and respiration of Scenedesmus almeriensis was studied using short photo-respirometric measurements. Both photosynthesis and respiration increasing until saturation value and consecutively diminishing, presenting inhibition by high concentrations. Regarding the influence of phosphorus concentration in microalgae cells, a similar hyperbolic trend was observed but no inhibition was observed at high concentration. Based on these experimental data, the respiration, and the photosynthesis rate of S. almeriensis were modelled using Haldane equation for nitrate and ammonium data, and Monod equation for phosphate data. In addition, experiments were performed to determine the yield coefficients for both nitrogen and phosphorus in S. almeriensis cultures. The data showed that the nitrogen and phosphorous coefficient yields are not constant, being modified as a function of nutrients concentration, presenting the luxury uptake phenomena. Finally, the proposed models were incorporated into a simulation tool to evaluate the photosynthetic activity and the nutrient yield coefficients of S. almeriensis when different culture media and wastewaters are used as a nitrogen and phosphorous source for its growth. Key points • Microalgal photosynthesis/respiration vary as a function of nutrients availability. • Photosynthesis inhibition appears at high N-NO 3 - and N-NH4+ concentrations. • Nutrient yield coefficients are influenced by luxury uptake phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sánchez Zurano
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain.
| | - C Gómez Serrano
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - F G Acién-Fernández
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - J M Fernández-Sevilla
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - E Molina-Grima
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento, s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
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Casagli F, Rossi S, Steyer JP, Bernard O, Ficara E. Balancing Microalgae and Nitrifiers for Wastewater Treatment: Can Inorganic Carbon Limitation Cause an Environmental Threat? Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:3940-3955. [PMID: 33657315 PMCID: PMC8028045 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The first objective of this study is to assess the predictive capability of the ALBA (ALgae-BActeria) model for a pilot-scale (3.8 m2) high-rate algae-bacteria pond treating agricultural digestate. The model, previously calibrated and validated on a one-year data set from a demonstrative-scale raceway (56 m2), successfully predicted data from a six-month monitoring campaign with a different wastewater (urban wastewater) under different climatic conditions. Without changing any parameter value from the previous calibration, the model accurately predicted both online monitored variables (dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature) and off-line measurements (nitrogen compounds, algal biomass, total and volatile suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand). Supported by the universal character of the model, different scenarios under variable weather conditions were tested, to investigate the effect of key operating parameters (hydraulic retention time, pH regulation, kLa) on algae biomass productivity and nutrient removal efficiency. Surprisingly, despite pH regulation, a strong limitation for inorganic carbon was found to hinder the process efficiency and to generate conditions that are favorable for N2O emission. The standard operating parameters have a limited effect on this limitation, and alkalinity turns out to be the main driver of inorganic carbon availability. This investigation offers new insights in algae-bacteria processes and paves the way for the identification of optimal operational strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Casagli
- Dipartimento
di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale (DICA), Politecnico di Milano, 32, Piazza L. da Vinci, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Institut
National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA), Biocore,
Université Cote d’Azur, 2004, Route des Lucioles − BP 93, 06902 Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Simone Rossi
- Dipartimento
di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale (DICA), Politecnico di Milano, 32, Piazza L. da Vinci, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Olivier Bernard
- Institut
National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA), Biocore,
Université Cote d’Azur, 2004, Route des Lucioles − BP 93, 06902 Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Elena Ficara
- Dipartimento
di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale (DICA), Politecnico di Milano, 32, Piazza L. da Vinci, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Casagli F, Zuccaro G, Bernard O, Steyer JP, Ficara E. ALBA: A comprehensive growth model to optimize algae-bacteria wastewater treatment in raceway ponds. Water Res 2021; 190:116734. [PMID: 33373944 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This paper proposes a new model describing the algae-bacteria ecosystem evolution in an outdoor raceway for wastewater treatment. The ALBA model is based on mass balances of COD, C, N and P, but also H and O. It describes growth and interactions among algae, heterotrophic and nitrifying bacteria, while local climate drives light and temperature. Relevant chemical/physical processes are also included. The minimum-law was used as ground principle to describe the multi-limitation kinetics. The model was set-up and calibrated with an original data set recorded on a 56 m2 raceway located in the South of France, continuously treating synthetic wastewater. The main process variables were daily measured along 443 days of operations and dissolved O2 and pH were on-line recorded. A sub-dataset was used for calibration and the model was successfully validated, along the different seasons over a period of 414 days. The model proved to be effective in reproducing both the short term nycthemeral dynamics and the long-term seasonal ones. The analysis of different scenarios reveals the fate of nitrogen and the key role played by oxygen and CO2 in the interactions between the different players of the ecosystem. On average, the process turns out to be CO2 neutral, as compared to a standard activated sludge where approximately half of the influent carbon will end up in the atmosphere. The ALBA model revealed that a suboptimal regulation of the paddle wheel can bring to several detrimental impacts. At high velocity, the strong aeration will reduce the available oxygen provided by photo-oxygenation, while very low aeration can rapidly lead to oxygen inhibition of the photosynthetic process. On the other hand, during night, the paddle wheel is fundamental to ensure enough oxygen in the system to support algal-bacteria respiration. The model can be used to support advanced control strategies, including smart regulation of the paddle wheel velocity to more efficiently balance the mixing, aeration and degassing effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Casagli
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip. di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale (DICA), Piazza L. da Vinci, 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Gaetano Zuccaro
- INRAE, Univ Montpellier, LBE, 102 Avenue des étangs, Narbonne, France
| | | | | | - Elena Ficara
- Politecnico di Milano, Dip. di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale (DICA), Piazza L. da Vinci, 32, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Sánchez-zurano A, Rodríguez-miranda E, Guzmán JL, Acién-fernández FG, Fernández-sevilla JM, Molina Grima E. ABACO: A New Model of Microalgae-Bacteria Consortia for Biological Treatment of Wastewaters. Applied Sciences 2021; 11:998. [DOI: 10.3390/app11030998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae-bacteria consortia have been proposed as alternatives to conventional biological processes to treat different types of wastewaters, including animal slurry. In this work, a microalgae-bacteria consortia (ABACO) model for wastewater treatment is proposed, it being calibrated and validated using pig slurry. The model includes the most relevant features of microalgae, such as light dependence, endogenous respiration, and growth and nutrient consumption as a function of nutrient availability (especially inorganic carbon), in addition to the already reported features of heterotrophic and nitrifying bacteria. The interrelation between the different populations is also included in the model, in addition to the simultaneous release and consumption of the most relevant compounds, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. The implementation of the model has been performed in MATLAB software; the calibration of model parameters was carried out using genetic algorithms. The ABACO model allows one to simulate the dynamics of different components in the system, and the relative proportions of microalgae, heterotrophic bacteria, and nitrifying bacteria. The percentage of each microbial population obtained with the model was confirmed by respirometric techniques. The proposed model is a powerful tool for the development of microalgae-related wastewater treatment processes, both to maximize the production of microalgal biomass and to optimize the wastewater treatment capacity.
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López-Pacheco IY, Silva-Núñez A, García-Perez JS, Carrillo-Nieves D, Salinas-Salazar C, Castillo-Zacarías C, Afewerki S, Barceló D, Iqbal HNM, Parra-Saldívar R. Phyco-remediation of swine wastewater as a sustainable model based on circular economy. J Environ Manage 2021; 278:111534. [PMID: 33129031 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pork production has expanded in the world in recent years. This growth has caused a significant increase in waste from this industry, especially of wastewater. Although there has been an increase in wastewater treatment, there is a lack of useful technologies for the treatment of wastewater from the pork industry. Swine farms generate high amounts of organic pollution, with large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus with final destination into water bodies. Sadly, little attention has been devoted to animal wastes, which are currently treated in simple systems, such as stabilization ponds or just discharged to the environment without previous treatment. This uncontrolled release of swine wastewater is a major cause of eutrophication processes. Among the possible treatments, phyco-remediation seems to be a sustainable and environmentally friendly option of removing compounds from wastewater such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and some metal ions. Several studies have demonstrated the feasibility of treating swine wastewater using different microalgae species. Nevertheless, the practicability of applying this procedure at pilot-scale has not been explored before as an integrated process. This work presents an overview of the technological applications of microalgae for the treatment of wastewater from swine farms and the by-products (pigments, polysaccharides, lipids, proteins) and services of commercial interest (biodiesel, biohydrogen, bioelectricity, biogas) generated during this process. Furthermore, the environmental benefits while applying microalgae technologies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itzel Y López-Pacheco
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, 64849, Mexico
| | - Arisbe Silva-Núñez
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, 64849, Mexico
| | - J Saúl García-Perez
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, 64849, Mexico
| | - Danay Carrillo-Nieves
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Av. General Ramón Corona 2514, Nuevo México, C.P. 45138, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
| | | | | | - Samson Afewerki
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Damiá Barceló
- Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), C/Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain; College of Environmental and Resources Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Hafiz N M Iqbal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, 64849, Mexico.
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