Comparing the use of a two-stage MBBR system with a methanogenic MBBR coupled with a microalgae reactor for medium-strength dairy wastewater treatment

Eirini Zkeri; Athanasia Iliopoulou; Alexandra Katsara; Angeliki Korda; Maria Aloupi; Georgia Gatidou; Michail S Fountoulakis; Athanasios S Stasinakis

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124629

Comparing the use of a two-stage MBBR system with a methanogenic MBBR coupled with a microalgae reactor for medium-strength dairy wastewater treatment

Bioresour Technol. 2021 Mar:323:124629. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124629. Epub 2020 Dec 30.

Authors

Eirini Zkeri¹, Athanasia Iliopoulou¹, Alexandra Katsara¹, Angeliki Korda¹, Maria Aloupi¹, Georgia Gatidou¹, Michail S Fountoulakis¹, Athanasios S Stasinakis²

Affiliations

¹ Water and Air Quality Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100, Greece.
² Water and Air Quality Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100, Greece. Electronic address: astas@env.aegean.gr.

PMID: 33421834
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124629

Abstract

Two systems were compared for medium-strength dairy wastewater treatment. The first comprised a methanogenic Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (AnMBBR) and an aerobic MBBR (AeMBBR), while the second an AnMBBR and a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with Chlorella sorokiniana. The AnMBBR, under ambient conditions, achieves biogas production sufficient enough to attain energy autonomy. The produced energy was 0.538 kWh m^-3, whereas the energy consumption 0.025 kWh m^-3. Its coupling with the AeMBBR removed COD, NH₄-N TKN, and PO₄-P by 93 ± 4%, 97 ± 3%, 99 ± 1% and 49 ± 15%, respectively, while the use of the SBR as a second step eliminated totally COD but partially the other pollutants. The higher nitrogen removal in the first system was due to nitrification occurring in the AeMBBR. The acclimatization of microalgae to dairy wastewater enhanced their growth. Their protein content was 54.56%, while starch and lipids were 3.39% and 23.1%, respectively.

Keywords: Biocarriers; Biogas production; Biomass characteristics; Microalgae; Milk processing wastewater treatment.

MeSH terms

Biofilms
Bioreactors
Chlorella*
Microalgae*
Nitrogen / analysis
Waste Disposal, Fluid
Wastewater
Water Purification*

Substances

Waste Water
Nitrogen