Optimization of the proportions of four wastewaters in a blend for the cultivation of microalgae using a mixture design

Abstract

A 2nd degree mixture design was used to determine the optimal blend prepared from four wastewater streams to produce microalgae-based biomass. The streams consisted of a liquid digestate from an anaerobic digestion process, a landfill leachate, a septic-system sludge treatment plant liquid, and a wastewater treatment plant effluent. The mixture regression analysis indicated that blends with higher proportions of treated effluent and digestate improved cells growth, while the use of leachate was detrimental to the growth. The global solution of the mixture optimization predicted a maximum value of biomass productivity of 22.76 mg L^-1 d^-1, in a blend consisting of 19% treated effluent, 21% digestate, and 60% water. Proportions of leachate higher than 13.33% were detrimental to the growth. The concentration of ammonia-N in the blends ranged from 0.39 to 150 mg L^-1 d^-1, and its toxicity effect on the cells diminished with increasing amounts of organic carbon in the cultivation medium.

Keywords: Ammonia; Digestate; Leachate; Microalgae; Mixture design; Organic carbon; Wastewaters.