Cultivation of Nannochloropsis salina in municipal wastewater or digester centrate

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 103; pp. 45 - 53
• Main Authors: Dong, Bingfeng, Ho, Nam, Ogden, Kimberly L., Arnold, Robert G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01-05-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biodiesel; Biofuel production; Biofuels; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Lipid production; Lipids - analysis; Metals - toxicity; Microalgae - drug effects; Microalgae - growth & development; Microalgae - metabolism; Municipal wastewater; Nannochloropsis salina; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nutrient removal; Phosphorus - metabolism; Pollution; Waste Water; Wastewaters reuse. Miscellaneous; Water - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Water treatment and pollution; Nutrient removal; Lipid production; Nannochloropsis salina; Biodiesel; Municipal wastewater; Removal; Algae; Lipids; Biofuel; Dehydration; Sewage sludge; Sustainable development; Heterokontophyta; Eustigmatophyceae; Digester; Production; Nutrient; Urban waste water; Fatty acid methyl ester
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.02.001

Meaningful use of biofuels for transportation depends on utilization of water from non-traditional, non-potable resources. Here it is hypothesized that (i) reclaimed wastewater or nutrient-rich side streams derived from municipal wastewater treatment are suitable for that purpose and (ii) use of those waters for algal growth can promote water quality through nutrient management. Experiments showed that metals levels in municipal wastewaters are unlikely to inhibit algal growth and lipid production, at least by metals tolerant microalgae like Nannochloropsis salina. Cells grew without inhibition in treated municipal wastewater or centrate derived from wastewater treatment at additions up to 75 percent v/v in their normal growth medium minus nitrogen and phosphorus. Although wastewater provides a suitable nutrient source for algal growth, not enough municipal wastewater is available to support a meaningful biofuels industry without efficient water recycling and nutrient recovery/reuse from spent algae.
•With recycling, municipal wastewater can satisfy water demand for microalgae growth.•N, P-rich sidestreams can sustain algal biofuels industry if nutrients are recycled.•Wastewater metals will not interfere with use of N. salina for biofuels development.