Commercial paper as a promising carrier for biofilm cultivation of Chlorella sp. for the treatment of anaerobic digestate food effluent (ADFE): Effect on the photosynthetic efficiency

Microalgal technology is still economically unattractive due to the high cost associated with microalgal cultivation and biomass recovery from conventional suspension cultures. Biofilm-based cultivation is a promising alternative for higher biomass yield and cheap/easy biomass harvesting opportunities. Additionally, using anaerobic digestate food effluent (ADFE) as a nutrient source reduces the cultivation cost and achieves ADFE treatment as an added value. However, the search for locally available, inexpensive, and efficient support materials is still open to research. This study evaluates the potential of commercially available, low-cost papers as support material for biofilm cultivation of Chlorella sp. and treatment of ADFE. Among the four papers screened for microalgal attachment, quill board paper performed better in higher biomass yield and stability throughout the study period. The attached growth study was done in a modular food container vessel, using anaerobic digestate food effluent (ADFE) as a nutrient source and a basal medium as a control. The microalgae grew well on the support material with higher biomass yield and productivity of 108.64 g(DW) m−2 and 9.96 g (DW) m−2 d−1, respectively, in the ADFE medium compared with 85.87 g (DW) m−2 and 4.99 g (DW) m−2 d−1, respectively in the basal medium. Chlorophyll, a fluorescence (ChlF) probe, showed that cell density in the biofilm significantly changes the photosynthetic apparatus of the algae, with evidence of stress observed as the culture progressed. Also, efficient nutrient removal from the ADFE medium was achieved in the 100 %, 85 %, and 40.2 % ratios for ammoniacal nitrogen, phosphate, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Therefore, using quill board paper as carrier material for microalgal cultivation offers promising advantages, including high biomass production, easy biomass harvesting (by scrapping or rolling the biomass with the paper), and efficient effluent treatment.

Details

Title: Commercial paper as a promising carrier for biofilm cultivation of Chlorella sp. for the treatment of anaerobic digestate food effluent (ADFE): Effect on the photosynthetic efficiency
Authors/Creators: Victor Okorie Mkpuma
Navid Moheimani - Murdoch University, Centre for Water, Energy and Waste
Houda Ennaceri
Publication Details: The science of the total environment, Vol.898, 165439
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Identifiers: 991005591970207891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences; Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems; Centre for Water, Energy and Waste; Algae R&D Centre
Resource Type: Journal article

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Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.171 Photoproductivity; 3.171.477 Microalgae Biotechnology
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology