Microalgae-based wastewater treatment for nutrients recovery: A review

Kun Li; Qiang Liu; Fan Fang; Ruihuan Luo; Qian Lu; Wenguang Zhou; Shuhao Huo; Pengfei Cheng; Junzhi Liu; Min Addy; Paul Chen; Dongjie Chen; Roger Ruan

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121934

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment for nutrients recovery: A review

Bioresour Technol. 2019 Nov:291:121934. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121934. Epub 2019 Jul 31.

Authors

Kun Li¹, Qiang Liu², Fan Fang², Ruihuan Luo², Qian Lu², Wenguang Zhou², Shuhao Huo³, Pengfei Cheng⁴, Junzhi Liu⁵, Min Addy⁶, Paul Chen⁶, Dongjie Chen⁶, Roger Ruan⁷

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, School of Resources, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China; Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55112, USA.
² Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, School of Resources, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
³ School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
⁴ College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
⁵ College of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China.
⁶ Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55112, USA.
⁷ Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55112, USA. Electronic address: ruanx001@umn.edu.

PMID: 31395401
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121934

Abstract

The water resource crisis and concerns with environmental pollution are pushing for upgrading of conventional wastewater treatment process. Microalgae-based wastewater treatment process has shown many advantages that can meet the new demand for improved wastewater treatment. However, considering the issues related to the complexity of wastewater characteristics and adaptability of microalgae species, and the challenges to the design and optimization of treatment processes in order to achieve higher removal efficiencies with lower costs, further exploration and research are still needed. This review provides an overview of microalgae strains commonly used for wastewater treatment, physical and chemical properties of various wastewaters and their suitability for algae cultivation, factors affecting algae growth, nutrient assimilation/removal and biomass productivity. The design and operation of microalgae-based wastewater treatment processes are also discussed. Moreover, the issues and limitations of microalgae-based wastewater treatment are also discussed and suggestions are proposed for the further research and development.

Keywords: Biomass production; Microalgae cultivation; Nutrients recovery; Wastewater treatment; Water reuse.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomass
Microalgae*
Nutrients
Wastewater*

Substances

Waste Water