title: Characterization of a microalga Chlorella sp. well adapted to highly concentrated municipal wastewater for nutrient removal and biodiesel production.
abstract: The feasibility of growing Chlorella sp. in the centrate, a highly concentrated municipal wastewater stream generated from activated sludge thickening process, for simultaneous wastewater treatment and energy production was tested. The characteristics of algal growth, biodiesel production, wastewater nutrient removal and the viability of scale-up and the stability of continuous operation were examined. Two culture media, namely autoclaved centrate (AC) and raw centrate (RC) were used for comparison. The results showed that by the end of a 14-day batch culture, algae could remove ammonia, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 93.9%, 89.1%, 80.9%, and 90.8%, respectively from raw centrate, and the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content was 11.04% of dry biomass providing a biodiesel yield of 0.12 g-biodiesel/L-algae culture solution. The system could be successfully scaled up, and continuously operated at 50% daily harvesting rate, providing a net biomass productivity of 0.92 g-algae/(L day).
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, Center for Biorefining, 1390 Eckles Avenue, St Paul, MN 55108, USA.
authors.forename: Yecong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Wenguang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruan
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D056804:Biofuels; D002708:Chlorella / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D003470:Culture Media; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D003470:Culture Media