title: Ammonium removal from anaerobically treated effluent by Chlamydomonas acidophila.
abstract: Several batch culture studies were carried out to evaluate an anaerobically treated effluent as a low-cost growth medium for the microalga Chlamydomonas acidophila and to study the effectiveness of the microalga in removing NH4-N from the effluent. An initial decrease in the effluent pH to 3 was required for adequate growth of C. acidophila and removal of NH4-N. Growth of the microalgae was inhibited at high light intensity (224μmolphotonsm(-2)s(-1) at the surface of the vessels). However, the growth was not greatly affected by the high solid content and turbidity of the effluent. The microalga was able to grow in media containing NH4-N at concentrations of up to 1000mgL(-1) (50% of effluent) and to remove 88mg of NH4-NL(-1) in 10days. C. acidophila therefore appears a promising agent for the removal of NH4-N from anaerobically treated effluents.
authors.affiliation: NEIKER-TECNALIA, Berreaga 1, E-48160 Derio, Spain. Electronic address: aescudero@neiker.net.
authors.forename: Ania
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escudero
authors.affiliation: NEIKER-TECNALIA, Berreaga 1, E-48160 Derio, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: NEIKER-TECNALIA, Berreaga 1, E-48160 Derio, Spain.
authors.forename: Arrate
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lacalle
authors.affiliation: NEIKER-TECNALIA, Berreaga 1, E-48160 Derio, Spain.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinto
mesh_terms: D064751:Ammonium Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000693:Anaerobiosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D002696:Chlamydomonas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D058086:Microalgae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
chemical_list: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D003470:Culture Media; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Ammonium removal; Anaerobically treated effluent; Biological treatment; Chlamydomonas acidophila; Microalgae