title: Utilization of cyanobacteria in photobioreactors for orthophosphate removal from water.
abstract: The effectiveness of photosynthetic free-living and polyurethane foam (PU) immobilized Anabaena variabilis cells for removal of orthophosphate (P) from water in batch cultures and in a photobioreactor was studied. Immobilization in PU foams was found to have a positive effect on P uptake by cyanobacteria in batch cultures. The efficiency of P uptake by immobilized cells was higher than by free-living cells. A laboratory scale photobioreactor was constructed for removal of P from water by the immobilized cyanobacteria. The photobioreactor was designed so that the growth medium (water) from a reservoir was pumped through a photobioreactor column with immobilized cyanobacteria and back to the reservoir. This created a closed system in which it was possible to measure P uptake. No leakage of cells into the photobioreactor medium reservoir was observed during the operation. The immobilized cells incorporated into a photobioreactor column removed P continuously for about 15 d. No measurable uptake was demonstrated after this period. Orthophosphate uptake efficiency of 88-92% was achieved by the photobioreactor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Fisk University, Nashville, TN 37208, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gaffney
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Markov
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gunasekaran
mesh_terms: D017033:Anabaena / Q000378:metabolism*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D019149:Bioreactors; D018914:Cells, Immobilized; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D010710:Phosphates / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018462:Photobiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical