Self-flocculation of enriched mixed microalgae culture in a sequencing batch reactor
- 23 January 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Environmental Science and Pollution Research
- Vol. 28 (21), 26595-26605
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12615-4
Abstract
Microalgae-based biodiesel has gained widespread interest as an alternative energy source. Low-cost microalgae harvesting technologies are important for economically feasible biodiesel production. This study investigated, for the first time, the impact of adaptation period and height to diameter (H/D) ratio of a reactor on the growth and self-flocculation of microalgae, without the addition of bacteria. Six reactors were grouped into three sets of experiments, and each reactor was operated for 30 days at similar operating conditions (volume exchange ratio = 25% and settling time = 30 min). In set 1, two 8-L reactors, H5a (H/D ratio: 5) and H8a (H/D ratio: 8), were operated under batch operation. In set 2, reactors H5b and H8b were operated as sequential batch reactors (SBRs) without an adaptation period. In set 3, the reactors H5c and H8c were operated as SBRs with an adaptation period. The findings showed a threefold improvement in biomass productivity for the higher H/D ratio (H8c) and a reduction in biomass loss for microalgae. The H8c reactor exhibited 95% settling efficiency within 5 days, in comparison to 30 days for the H5c reactor. This study demonstrated that a higher H/D ratio and the introduction of an adaptation period in SBR operation positively influences growth and self-flocculation of enriched mixed microalgae culture.Keywords
Funding Information
- Ministry of Education, Malaysia, through the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (6071446)
This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
- Production and harvesting of microalgae for wastewater treatment, biofuels, and bioproductsBiotechnology Advances, 2011
- Wastewater treatment high rate algal ponds for biofuel productionBioresource Technology, 2011
- Biodiesel production by microalgal biotechnologyApplied Energy, 2010
- Storage, Clarification and Chemical TreatmentPublished by Elsevier BV ,2009
- Aerobic granular sludge: Recent advancesBiotechnology Advances, 2008
- Successful Removal of Algae through the Control of Zeta PotentialSeparation Science and Technology, 2008
- Chapter 5 Factors affecting aerobic granulationPublished by Elsevier BV ,2006
- Influence of sludge retention time on membrane fouling and bioactivities in membrane bioreactor systemProcess Biochemistry, 2005
- Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) by activated sludge treating municipal wastewater: effect of pH, sludge retention time (SRT), and acetate concentration in influentWater Research, 2003
- Influences of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) on Flocculation, Settling, and Dewatering of Activated SludgeCritical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2003