THE USE OF A SELECTED FAST-SEDIMENTATION GREEN MICROALGAE FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Abstract

The use of microalgae in biotechnological processes, such as bioenergy production and wastewater treatment have been and continue to be of great interest. However, the commercialization of their potential is hindered due to various technical challenges, with biomass harvesting being the largest and most expensive energy consumer among them. Therefore, a major challenge is in finding an efficient harvesting method with high economic feasibility. In this study, a rapid-sedimentation freshwater green microalga was used for batch treatment of artificial wastewater. This strain, in addition to its ability to efficiently remove and use N, P as a source of nutrients, has the advantage of a fast-sedimentation innate feature that allows for a rapid biomass settling (less than 10 minutes) without the addition of any flocculant. This green microalgal strain grows in the form of macrocolonies that significantly favor harvesting by rapid natural gravitational sedimentation. Thus, as this microalga will not require centrifugal harvesting, which is expensive and energy-consuming, its use at both bench and pilot scale could be a promising, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach for biotechnological applications.