Can Anaerobically Digested Food Effluent Support Arthrospira platensis Cultivation in Open Ponds?

Mohammadjavad Raeisossadati; Odgerel Bumandalai; Navid Reza Moheimani

doi:10.3390/app15063115

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Can Anaerobically Digested Food Effluent Support Arthrospira platensis Cultivation in Open Ponds?

Journal article

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Can Anaerobically Digested Food Effluent Support Arthrospira platensis Cultivation in Open Ponds?

Mohammadjavad Raeisossadati, Odgerel Bumandalai and Navid Reza Moheimani

Applied sciences, Vol.15(6), 3115

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063115

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Abstract

raceway ponds

microalgae

biomass productivity

Spirulina

wastewater treatment

The cultivation of Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) is well-established in applied phycology, but the high cost of conventional media limits large-scale production. Anaerobically digested food effluent (ADFE), rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, offers a cost-effective alternative while mitigating environmental impacts. This study evaluated ADFE as a partial replacement for Zarrouk’s medium, with 37.5%, 50%, and 70% substitutions, the latter two added incrementally. Cultivation was conducted in paddlewheel-driven raceway ponds under outdoor conditions for 22 days during the Australian autumn. The highest biomass productivity (8.83 g m−2 d−1) was achieved with 70% ADFE, significantly outperforming Zarrouk’s medium (p < 0.05). Chlorophyll a content remained unaffected (p > 0.05), and ammonium (N-NH4+) declined to near zero by day 9, indicating efficient nutrient uptake. These findings demonstrate that staged ADFE addition can successfully replace up to 70% of Zarrouk’s medium while maintaining robust A. platensis growth, highlighting its potential as a sustainable alternative for large-scale microalgal cultivation.

Details

Title: Can Anaerobically Digested Food Effluent Support Arthrospira platensis Cultivation in Open Ponds?
Authors/Creators: Mohammadjavad Raeisossadati - Murdoch University
Odgerel Bumandalai - Murdoch University
Navid Reza Moheimani - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Applied sciences, Vol.15(6), 3115
Publisher: MDPI; BASEL
Number of pages: 11
Identifiers: 991005754830607891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Water, Energy and Waste; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences; Algae R&D Centre
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.171 Photoproductivity; 3.171.477 Microalgae Biotechnology
Web Of Science research areas: Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Engineering, Multidisciplinary; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary; Physics, Applied
ESI research areas: Engineering