Bioconversion of algae to methane and subsequent utilization of digestate for algae cultivation: a closed loop bioenergy generation process

Sanjeev Kumar Prajapati; Pushpendar Kumar; Anushree Malik; Virendra Kumar Vijay

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.023

Bioconversion of algae to methane and subsequent utilization of digestate for algae cultivation: a closed loop bioenergy generation process

Bioresour Technol. 2014 Apr:158:174-80. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.023. Epub 2014 Feb 15.

Authors

Sanjeev Kumar Prajapati¹, Pushpendar Kumar², Anushree Malik³, Virendra Kumar Vijay⁴

Affiliations

¹ 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.
² Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
³ 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.
⁴ Biogas Research Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.

PMID: 24603490
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.023

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".

Keywords: Algae; Algal digestate; Biomethane; Digestibility; Wastewater.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biomass
Methane / metabolism*
Microalgae / growth & development
Microalgae / metabolism*

Substances

Methane