Growth and photo-physiology of microalgal biofilms grown in food and piggery waste digestates

Victor Okorie Mkpuma; Navid Reza Moheimani; Houda Ennaceri

doi:10.1016/j.algal.2025.104084

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Growth and photo-physiology of microalgal biofilms grown in food and piggery waste digestates

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Growth and photo-physiology of microalgal biofilms grown in food and piggery waste digestates

Victor Okorie Mkpuma, Navid Reza Moheimani and Houda Ennaceri

Algal research (Amsterdam), Vol.89, 104084

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2025.104084

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Abstract

Anaerobic digestate

Chlorella sp

Fluorescence efficiency

Food effluent

Nutrient removal

Piggery effluent

Conventional suspension-based microalgae cultivation for treating anaerobically digested effluents (ADEs) suffers several setbacks such as inadequate light access, and expensive biomass harvesting. Biofilm cultivation is a promising alternative due to its simplicity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, but its applicability to a wide range of ADEs from diverse sources needs to be understood. Here, perfused biofilm approach was used to grow Chlorella sp. to treat anaerobically digested food (ADFE) and piggery (ADPE) effluents. To monitor the vitality and photosynthesis performance throughout the biofilm growth, chlorophyll-a fluorescence of the biofilm was studied in situ. Chlorella sp. grew successfully in ADPE with approximately 15 % and 12 % higher biomass yield and productivity than in ADFE. Approximately 10 % higher total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) removal efficiency was achieved in ADPE compared with ADFE. There was no difference in phosphate (up to 85 %) and COD (between 14 and 16 %) removal efficiencies in both effluents. The Chlorella species exhibited divergent photochemical mechanisms in both effluents. While it showed efficient transfer of electrons along the electron transport system in ADPE till day 10, inhibition of electron transport on day 4 was seen in ADFE, which improved later on day 10. Conversely, the efficiency of primary photochemistry (Fv/fm) and the efficiency of water-splitting in PS II (Fv/Fo) reveal that the algae experience stress in the early stage of the culture in both effluents probably due to overcrowding or early acclimatization. The overall assessment of the Chlorophyll-a fluorescence parameters reveals more efficient photosystem activities in ADPE than in ADFE. [Display omitted]

Details

Title: Growth and photo-physiology of microalgal biofilms grown in food and piggery waste digestates
Authors/Creators: Victor Okorie Mkpuma - Murdoch University
Navid Reza Moheimani - Murdoch University
Houda Ennaceri - Algae R&D Centre, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
Publication Details: Algal research (Amsterdam), Vol.89, 104084
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.; AMSTERDAM
Number of pages: 12
Identifiers: 991005780586207891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences; Centre for Water, Energy and Waste; Algae R&D Centre
Language: English
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: Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
ESI research areas: Biology & Biochemistry