<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In the past decades microalgae have been viewed as a promising source of sustainable biomass, because the cultivation of microalgae does not require arable land. Because the main use of the biomass has been envisaged as feedstock for biofuel, research has been directed on increasing the (lipid) yield of monospecies. However, because the production of biofuel from such virgin biomass is not economically viable, the production of the biomass should be coupled with other processes. In addition, cultivating polycultures may yield more biomass, while ensuring a stable culture. In this research <italic>Chlorella spp.</italic>, <italic>Arthrospira platensis</italic> and <italic>Raphidocelis subcapitata</italic> were grown as a polyculture in municipal wastewater in order to remove nutrients. The results indicate that using microalgal polycultures may help reduce nitrogen and phosphorus by the level reglemented by the EU Council Directive. This may help reduce water treatment costs with simultaneous biomass production.</p></abstract>

In the past decades microalgae have been viewed as a promising source of sustainable biomass, because the cultivation of microalgae does not require arable land. Because the main use of the biomass has been envisaged as feedstock for biofuel, research has been directed on increasing the (lipid) yield of monospecies. However, because the production of biofuel from such virgin biomass is not economically viable, the production of the biomass should be coupled with other processes. In addition, cultivating polycultures may yield more biomass, while ensuring a stable culture. In this research Chlorella spp., Arthrospira platensis and Raphidocelis subcapitata were grown as a polyculture in municipal wastewater in order to remove nutrients. The results indicate that using microalgal polycultures may help reduce nitrogen and phosphorus by the level reglemented by the EU Council Directive. This may help reduce water treatment costs with simultaneous biomass production.

Cultivation of Algae Polyculture in Municipal Wastewater with CO<sub>2</sub> Supply

Tallinn University of Technology Department of Marine Systems

Environmental and Climate Technologies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Cultivation of Algae Polyculture in Municipal Wastewater with CO Supply

In the past decades microalgae have been viewed as a promising source of sustainable biomass, because the cultivation of microalgae does not require arable...

Cultivation of Algae Polyculture in Municipal Wastewater with CO₂ Supply

Published Online: Dec 14, 2020

Page range: 188 - 200

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2020-0096

Keywords
Functional diversity, microalgae consortium, mixed species, multispecies, nutrient removal, polyculture, wastewater treatment

© 2020 Lara Podkuiko et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Cultivation of Algae Polyculture in Municipal Wastewater with CO2 Supply

Published Online: Dec 14, 2020

Page range: 188 - 200

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2020-0096

KeywordsFunctional diversity, microalgae consortium, mixed species, multispecies, nutrient removal, polyculture, wastewater treatment

© 2020 Lara Podkuiko et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Cultivation of Algae Polyculture in Municipal Wastewater with CO₂ Supply

Keywords
Functional diversity, microalgae consortium, mixed species, multispecies, nutrient removal, polyculture, wastewater treatment