title: Treatment of drainage solution from hydroponic greenhouse production with microalgae.
abstract: This study investigated treatment of the drainage solution from greenhouse production with microalgae, through inoculation with Chlorella vulgaris or through growth of the indigenous microalgal community. A significant reduction in nitrogen, between 34.7 and 73.7 mg L(-1), and particularly in phosphorus concentration, between 15.4 and 15.9 mg L(-1), was observed in drainage solution collected from commercial greenhouse production. The large reduction in nutrients was achieved through growth of the indigenous microalgal community i.e., without pre-treatment of the drainage solution or inoculation with the fast growing green microalgae C. vulgaris. Analysis of the fatty acid composition of the algal biomass revealed that compared with a standard growth medium for green algae, the drainage solution was inferior for lipid production. Despite the biorefinery concept being less promising, microalgae-based treatment of drainage solution from greenhouse production is still of interest considering the urgent need for phosphorus recycling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden. Malin.Hultberg@slu.se
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hultberg
authors.forename: Anders S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004952:Esters / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D018527:Hydroponics; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D012996:Solutions; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D005227:Fatty Acids; D012996:Solutions; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen