| Abstrakt: |
The nutrient cycling from microalgae-based processes is a potential technological route to be applied in wastewater treatment plants. The pollutants conversion in parallel with microalgal sludge formation results in a renewable feedstock for bioproducts production that potentially reduces the cost of wastewater treatment. The experiments have been performed in a bubble column bioreactor, operating at 25ºC, pH 7.5, 100 mg/L of initial inoculum, absence of light and flow rate per unit volume (Q/V) of 1.0 VVM (volume of air per volume of culture per minute). Thereby, the kinetic parameters of cell growth, substrate consumption, analysis of microalgal sludge composition and the biodiesel quality properties have been realized. The nutrient cycling by Phormidium autumnale in wastewater has presented high removal efficiencies of pollutants. The generated microalgal sludge shows predominance of saturated fatty acids, indicates the potential of its use as a suitable lipid input for biodiesel synthesis. The lipid-extracted microalgae (LEM) showed high content of free amino acids, minerals and pigments. The heterotrophic microalgae cultivation in wastewater has demonstrated to be capable of removing pollutants and, simultaneously, producing biofuel and being a potential source for animal feeding from microalgal sludge, contributing, therefore, to the multi-purpose microalgal bioprocess development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
