Advances in algal-prokaryotic wastewater treatment: A review of nitrogen transformations, reactor configurations and molecular tools

Meng Wang; Ryan Keeley; Nadezhda Zalivina; Trina Halfhide; Kathleen Scott; Qiong Zhang; Peter van der Steen; Sarina J Ergas

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.04.021

Advances in algal-prokaryotic wastewater treatment: A review of nitrogen transformations, reactor configurations and molecular tools

J Environ Manage. 2018 Jul 1:217:845-857. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.04.021. Epub 2018 Apr 24.

Authors

Meng Wang¹, Ryan Keeley², Nadezhda Zalivina³, Trina Halfhide⁴, Kathleen Scott⁵, Qiong Zhang⁶, Peter van der Steen⁷, Sarina J Ergas⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, ENB 118, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. Electronic address: mwang3@usf.edu.
² Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, BSF 132, Tampa, FL 33620-5200, USA. Electronic address: rkeeley@mail.usf.edu.
³ Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, ENB 118, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. Electronic address: nzalivina@mail.usf.edu.
⁴ Department of Life Sciences, The University of The West Indies, Natural Sciences Building, New Wing, Room 225, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Electronic address: trina.halfhide@sta.uwi.edu.
⁵ Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, BSF 132, Tampa, FL 33620-5200, USA. Electronic address: kmscott@usf.edu.
⁶ Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, ENB 118, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. Electronic address: qiongzhang@usf.edu.
⁷ Department of Environmental Engineering and Water Technology, IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: p.vandersteen@un-ihe.org.
⁸ Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, ENB 118, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. Electronic address: sergas@usf.edu.

PMID: 29660710
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.04.021

Abstract

The synergistic activity of algae and prokaryotic microorganisms can be used to improve the efficiency of biological wastewater treatment, particularly with regards to nitrogen removal. For example, algae can provide oxygen through photosynthesis needed for aerobic degradation of organic carbon and nitrification and harvested algal-prokaryotic biomass can be used to produce high value chemicals or biogas. Algal-prokaryotic consortia have been used to treat wastewater in different types of reactors, including waste stabilization ponds, high rate algal ponds and closed photobioreactors. This review addresses the current literature and identifies research gaps related to the following topics: 1) the complex interactions between algae and prokaryotes in wastewater treatment; 2) advances in bioreactor technologies that can achieve high nitrogen removal efficiencies in small reactor volumes, such as algal-prokaryotic biofilm reactors and enhanced algal-prokaryotic treatment systems (EAPS); 3) molecular tools that have expanded our understanding of the activities of algal and prokaryotic communities in wastewater treatment processes.

Keywords: Algal-prokaryotic consortia; Biological nitrogen removal; Full-scale applications; N metabolic pathways; Reactor configurations.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomass
Bioreactors*
Nitrification
Nitrogen / chemistry*
Photobioreactors
Waste Disposal, Fluid
Wastewater*

Substances

Waste Water
Nitrogen