The interactions of algae-activated sludge symbiotic system and its effects on wastewater treatment and lipid accumulation

Bioresour Technol. 2019 Nov:292:122017. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122017. Epub 2019 Aug 16.

Abstract

The ability of Scenedesmus sp. 336, Chlorella sp. 1602 and activated sludge (AS) alone or in combination to remove nutrients and accumulate lipid in artificial municipal wastewater under light/dark conditions was studied. The symbiotic systems showed greater advantages than the sterile systems. Scenedesmus sp. 336 + AS system obtained the highest lipid productivity after seven days of cultivation in light, while the NO3--N and COD were completely absorbed and utilized, as well as the removal rate of PO43--P and NH4+-N were 99.82% and 87.13%, respectively. Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured to demonstrate the relationship between oxidative stress and lipid accumulation. Besides, the results of microbial analysis showed that some dominant plant growth-promoting bacteria could secrete indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to enhance the interaction between algae and bacteria, and the denitrifying bacteria that could coexist with microalgae also improved the efficiency of wastewater treatment in the symbiotic systems.

Keywords: Algal-bacterial symbiosis; Bacterial community structure; Interactions; Lipid production; Wastewater treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Chlorella*
  • Lipids
  • Microalgae*
  • Sewage
  • Wastewater

Substances

  • Lipids
  • Sewage
  • Waste Water