title: Bioconversion of algae to methane and subsequent utilization of digestate for algae cultivation: a closed loop bioenergy generation process.
abstract: The present investigation was targeted on anaerobic digestion of Chroococcus sp. and utilization of resultant "Liquid Digestate" for its further biomass production. The algal biomass has biomethane potential of 317.31 ± 1.9 mL CH4 g(-1) VSfed. Regular process monitoring revealed that process was stable throughout the experiments. The "Liquid Digestate" was explored as nutrient supplement for further algal growth. Diluted "Liquid Digestate" (30% concentration) was found optimal for algal growth (0.79 ± 0.064 g L(-1)). Simultaneously, 69.99-89.31% removal in nutrient and sCOD was also recorded with algal growth. Interestingly, higher growth was observed when rural sector wastewater (1.29 ± 0.067 g L(-1)) and BG11 broth (1.42 ± 0.102 g L(-1)) was used for diluting the "Liquid Digestate". The current findings have practically proven the feasibility of hypothesized "closed loop process".
authors.affiliation: Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India; Biogas Research Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India. Electronic address: sanjukec@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sanjeev Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Prajapati
authors.affiliation: Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
authors.forename: Pushpendar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India. Electronic address: anushree_malik@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Anushree
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Biogas Research Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
authors.forename: Virendra Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Vijay
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008697:Methane
keywords: Algae; Algal digestate; Biomethane; Digestibility; Wastewater