title: Evaluation of a thermo-tolerant acidophilic alga, Galdieria sulphuraria, for nutrient removal from urban wastewaters.
abstract: Nutrient removal from primary wastewater effluent was tested using Galdieria sulphuraria, an acidophilic and moderately thermophilic alga. Biomass yield recorded in this study (27.42g biomass per g nitrogen removed) is higher than the average reported in the literature (25.75g g(-1)) while, the theoretical yield estimated from the empirical molecular formula of algal biomass is 15.8g g(-1). Seven-day removal efficiencies were 88.3% for ammoniacal-nitrogen and 95.5% for phosphates; corresponding removal rates were 4.85 and 1.21mg L(-1)d(-1). Although these rates are lower than the average literature values for other strains (6.36 and 1.34mg L(-1)d(-1), respectively), potential advantages of G. sulphuraria for accomplishing energy-positive nutrient removal are highlighted. Feasibility of growing G. sulphuraria outdoors at densities higher than in high-rate oxidation ponds is also demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Civil Engineering Dept., New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Selvaratnam
authors.affiliation: Civil Engineering Dept., New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pegallapati
authors.affiliation: Civil Engineering Dept., New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montelya
authors.affiliation: Civil Engineering Dept., New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Civil Engineering Dept., New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA. Electronic address: nkhandan@nmsu.edu.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nirmalakhandan
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Voorhies
authors.affiliation: Energy Research Laboratory, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lammers
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D002947:Cities; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058433:Photobioreactors; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen; D010758:Phosphorus; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Algal wastewater treatment; Biomass yield; Galdieria sulphuraria; Nutrient removal