Membrane photobioreactors for integrated microalgae cultivation and nutrient remediation of membrane bioreactors effluent

L Marbelia; M R Bilad; I Passaris; V Discart; D Vandamme; A Beuckels; K Muylaert; Ivo F J Vankelecom

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.04.012

Membrane photobioreactors for integrated microalgae cultivation and nutrient remediation of membrane bioreactors effluent

Bioresour Technol. 2014 Jul:163:228-35. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.04.012. Epub 2014 Apr 13.

Authors

L Marbelia¹, M R Bilad¹, I Passaris¹, V Discart¹, D Vandamme², A Beuckels², K Muylaert², Ivo F J Vankelecom³

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, Box 2461, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
² Lab Aquatic Biology, Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven Kulak, E. Sabbelaan 53, B-8500 Kortrijk, Belgium.
³ Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, Box 2461, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: ivo.vankelecom@biw.kuleuven.be.

PMID: 24814249
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.04.012

Abstract

The feasibility of a new concept of wastewater treatment by combining a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and a microalgae membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) is assessed in this study. In this system, the organic carbon present in wastewater is expected to be fully oxidized in the MBR, while the nutrients are removed via the subsequent MPBR treatment. The effluent of a lab-scale MBR was fed into a PBR and a MPBR which served as growing medium for Chlorella vulgaris. The MPBRs demonstrated their superiority by limiting the algae wash-out, thus increasing the allowable optimum dilution rate (Dopt). At these corresponding Dopt values, 3.5 and 2 times higher biomass concentrations and volumetric productivities respectively were achieved by the MPBR. It is also possible to run the MPBR at still higher biomass concentration, thus enabling a smaller footprint and higher nutrient removal efficiency. However, reduced nutrient removal efficiencies were found to be one possible drawback.

Keywords: Effluent treatment; Membrane photobioreactor; Microalgae; Nutrient recovery.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Biomass
Chlorella vulgaris / growth & development*
Culture Media
Membranes, Artificial*
Microalgae / growth & development*
Photobioreactors*
Wastewater
Water Purification / instrumentation*

Substances

Culture Media
Membranes, Artificial
Waste Water