title: Carbon and nutrient removal from centrates and domestic wastewater using algal-bacterial biofilm bioreactors.
abstract: The mechanisms of carbon and nutrient removal in an open algal-bacterial biofilm reactor and an open bacterial biofilm reactor were comparatively evaluated during the treatment of centrates and domestic wastewater. Comparable carbon removals (>80%) were recorded in both bioreactors, despite the algal-bacterial biofilm supported twice higher nutrient removals than the bacterial biofilm. The main carbon and nitrogen removal mechanisms in the algal-bacterial photobioreactor were assimilation into algal biomass and stripping, while stripping accounted for most carbon and nitrogen removal in the bacterial biofilm. Phosphorus was removed by assimilation into algal-bacterial biomass while no effective phosphorous removal was observed in the bacterial biofilm. Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removals of 91 ± 3%, 70 ± 8% and 85 ± 9%, respectively, were recorded in the algal-bacterial bioreactor at 10d of hydraulic retention time when treating domestic wastewater. However, the high water footprint recorded (0.5-6.7 Lm(-2)d(-1)) could eventually compromise the environmental sustainability of this microalgae-based technology.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n Valladolid, Spain.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Posadas
authors: Pedro-Antonio
authors: PA
authors: García-Encina
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Soltau
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Domínguez
authors: Ignacio
authors: I
authors: Díaz
authors: Raúl
authors: R
authors: Muñoz
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms; D002244:Carbon / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D010710:Phosphates / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058433:Photobioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000382:microbiology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen; D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical