title: Algae-facilitated chemical phosphorus removal during high-density Chlorella emersonii cultivation in a membrane bioreactor.
abstract: An algae-based membrane bioreactor (A-MBR) was evaluated for high-density algae cultivation and phosphorus (P) removal. The A-MBR was seeded with Chlorella emersonii and operated at a hydraulic retention time of 1day with minimal biomass wastage for about 150days. The algae concentration increased from initially 385mg/L (or 315mg biomass COD/L) to a final of 4840mg/L (or 1664mg COD/L), yielding an average solids (algae biomass+minerals) production rate of 32.5gm(-3)d(-1) or 6.2gm(-2)d(-1). The A-MBR was able to remove 66±9% of the total P from the water while the algal biomass had an average of 7.5±0.2% extracellular P and 0.4% of intracellular P. The results suggest that algae-induced phosphate precipitation by algae is key to P removal and high-density algae cultivation produces P-rich algal biomass with excellent settling properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernards
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. Electronic address: huzh@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057219:Biofouling; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002708:Chlorella / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000737:chemistry; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010539:Permeability; D010710:Phosphates / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010788:Photosynthesis; D011312:Pressure; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus
keywords: Algae; Chemical precipitation; MBR; Membrane fouling; Phosphorus removal