Finding optimal algal/bacterial inoculation ratio to improve algal biomass growth with wastewater as nutrient source

Authors

  • Le Anh Pham 1. ICube, UMR 7357, ENGEES, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 2 rue Boussingault, 67000 Strasbourg, France; 2. Department of Water-Environment-Oceanography, University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Julien Laurent 1ICube, UMR 7357, ENGEES, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 2 rue Boussingault, 67000 Strasbourg, France
  • Paul Bois ICube, UMR 7357, ENGEES, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 2 rue Boussingault, 67000 Strasbourg, France
  • Adrien Wanko ICube, UMR 7357, ENGEES, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 2 rue Boussingault, 67000 Strasbourg, France

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/wsa/2019.v45.i4.7543

Keywords:

microalgae, activated sludge, nutrients, wastewater, sequencing batch reactor

Abstract

Algal growth, nutrient removal and settling efficiency were quantified while inoculating sequencing batch reactors with a mixture of microalgae and bacteria (activated sludge). Three algae/bacteria inoculation ratios (5:1, 1:1 and 1:5) as well as pure algal biomass (control) were assessed. Algal biomass production increased with the addition of activated sludge. However, the addition of too much activated sludge can cause disturbance to the Al-Bac biomass growth and algal bacterial processes. All reactors including the control with only algae showed similar settling and nutrient removal efficiencies. Good settling was observed in all reactors with only 5% of total biomass found in supernatant after 1 h of settling. Removal efficiencies of COD, TN and PO4-P in all reactors were 79–82%, 61–65% and 15–37%, respectively, with the lowest phosphorus removal efficiency belonging to 1:5 algae/activated sludge ratio. These results may be due to both long hydraulic (7 days) and solids retention times (up to 30 days). Finally, Al-Bac biomass with 1:1 inoculation ratio showed the best enhancement in terms of biomass growth and algal activities.

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Published

2019-10-29

Issue

Section

Research paper

How to Cite

Pham, L.A. (2019) “Finding optimal algal/bacterial inoculation ratio to improve algal biomass growth with wastewater as nutrient source”, Water SA, 45(4 October). doi:10.17159/wsa/2019.v45.i4.7543.