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Nordio R, Rodríguez-Miranda E, Casagli F, Sánchez-Zurano A, Guzmán JL, Acién G. ABACO-2: a comprehensive model for microalgae-bacteria consortia validated outdoor at pilot-scale. Water Res 2024; 248:120837. [PMID: 37984038 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Modelling microalgae-bacteria in wastewater treatment systems has gained significant attention in the last few years. In this study, we present an enhanced version of the ABACO model, named ABACO-2, which demonstrates improved accuracy through validation in outdoor pilot-scale systems. ABACO-2 enables the comprehensive characterization of microalgae-bacteria consortia dynamics, allowing to predict the biomass concentration (microalgae, heterotrophic bacteria, and nitrifying bacteria) and nutrient evolution. The updated version of the model incorporates new equations for nutrient coefficient yields, oxygen mass balance, and microorganism cellular decay, while significantly reducing the number of calibrated parameters, simplifying the parameter identification. Calibration and validation were performed using data from a 80 m2 raceway reactor operated in a semicontinuous mode over an extensive period (May to November, total of 206 days) at a fixed dilution rate of 0.2 day-1 (corresponding to 5 days of hydraulic retention time), where untreated urban wastewater was used as culture medium. ABACO-2 exhibited robustness, accurately forecasting biomass production, population dynamics, nutrient recovery, and prevailing culture conditions across a wide range of environmental and water composition conditions. Mathematical models are essential instruments for the industrial development and optimization of microalgae-related wastewater treatment processes, thereby contributing to the sustainability of the wastewater treatment industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Nordio
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain.
| | - Enrique Rodríguez-Miranda
- CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain; Department of Informatics, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Francesca Casagli
- Biocore, INRIA centre d'Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia-Antipolis F-06902, France
| | - Ana Sánchez-Zurano
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - José Luis Guzmán
- CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain; Department of Informatics, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
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2
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Belachqer-El Attar S, Morillas-España A, Sánchez-Zurano A, Pessôa LC, Pinna-Hernández MG, de Jesus Assis D, López JLC, Acién G. Influence of culture media composition on the rheology of microalgae concentrates on a large scale. N Biotechnol 2023; 77:90-99. [PMID: 37532220 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The role of microalgae in the production of bioproducts and biofuels, along with their ability to provide a sustainable pathway for wastewater treatment, makes them promising alternatives to conventional processes. Nevertheless, large-scale downstream processing requires an understanding of biomass rheology that needs to be addressed further. This study aimed to characterize microalgal concentrates rheologically in different culture media. The presence of bacteria was quantified by photorespirometry and plate counting techniques. The culture medium was found to significantly influence viscosity, with primary wastewater exhibiting the highest viscosity and seawater plus pig slurry the lowest. The concentration of heterotrophic bacteria was directly related to the viscosity. Extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) in supernatant exhibited an inverse viscosity trend compared to biomass concentrates, with pig slurry cultures having higher concentrations. These findings emphasize the profound influence of culture medium and EPS on the rheology of microalgal biomass, underscoring the need for continued research aimed at facilitating and optimizing large-scale downstream processes within the framework of a circular economy and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (6,8, and 12).
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Affiliation(s)
- Solaima Belachqer-El Attar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain.
| | - Ainoa Morillas-España
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Ana Sánchez-Zurano
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Luiggi Cavalcanti Pessôa
- Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering (PPEQ), Polytechnic School, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; Senai Cimatec University Center, Environment Department, Salvador, Brazil
| | - María Guadalupe Pinna-Hernández
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Denilson de Jesus Assis
- Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering (PPEQ), Polytechnic School, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; School of Exact and Technological Sciences, University Salvador, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - José Luis Casas López
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain
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3
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Nordio R, Viviano E, Sánchez-Zurano A, Hernández JG, Rodríguez-Miranda E, Guzmán JL, Acién G. Influence of pH and dissolved oxygen control strategies on the performance of pilot-scale microalgae raceways using fertilizer or wastewater as the nutrient source. J Environ Manage 2023; 345:118899. [PMID: 37673007 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Dissolved oxygen concentration and pH are controllable and cost-effective variables that determine the success of microalgae-related processes. The present study compares different control strategies for pH and dissolved oxygen in pilot-scale microalgae production systems. Two 80 m2 raceway reactors were used, one operated with freshwater plus fertilizer and the other with wastewater as the nutrient source. Both were in semi-continuous mode at a fixed dilution rate of 0.2 day-1. A comparison between the classical On-Off and more advanced pH control strategies, such as PI and Event-based control, was performed, focusing on biomass productivity and the influence of all the process parameters on microalgae growth; "No control" of pH was also assayed. The results show that Event-based control was the best algorithm when using freshwater plus fertilizer. In contrast, no significant differences were observed using the different control strategies when wastewater was the nutrient source. These experiments were performed through selective control strategy, prioritizing pH over dissolved oxygen; however, it was demonstrated that they did not allow to achieve satisfactory dissolved oxygen removal results, especially for the fertilizer system. After modifying the gas diffuser configuration and improving the mass transfer, independent on-off strategies have been developed, permitting effective control of both variables and increasing productivity by up to 20% in both systems. Concluding, a detailed analysis of the energy demand for each strategy implemented in terms of gas consumption and gas flow to biomass ratio is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Nordio
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120, Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120, Almería, Spain.
| | | | - Ana Sánchez-Zurano
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120, Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | | | | | - José Luis Guzmán
- Department of Informatics, Universidad de Almería, E04120, Almería, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120, Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120, Almería, Spain
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4
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García-Márquez J, Álvarez-Torres D, Cerezo IM, Domínguez-Maqueda M, Figueroa FL, Alarcón FJ, Acién G, Martínez-Manzanares E, Abdala-Díaz RT, Béjar J, Arijo S. Combined Dietary Administration of Chlorella fusca and Ethanol-Inactivated Vibrio proteolyticus Modulates Intestinal Microbiota and Gene Expression in Chelon labrosus. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3325. [PMID: 37958080 PMCID: PMC10648860 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of functional feeds in aquaculture is currently increasing. This study aimed to assess the combined impact of dietary green microalgae Chlorella fusca and ethanol-inactivated Vibrio proteolyticus DCF12.2 (CVP diet) on thick-lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) juvenile fish. The effects on intestinal microbiota and the transcription of genes related to metabolism, stress, and the immune system were investigated after 90 days of feeding. Additionally, the fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) to evaluate the immune response. Microbiota analysis revealed no significant differences in alpha and beta diversity between the anterior and posterior intestinal sections of fish fed the control (CT) and CVP diets. The dominant genera varied between the groups; Pseudomonas and Brevinema were most abundant in the CVP group, whereas Brevinema, Cetobacterium, and Pseudomonas were predominant in the CT group. However, microbial functionality remained unaltered. Gene expression analysis indicated notable changes in hif3α, mhcII, abcb1, mx, and tnfα genes in different fish organs on the CVP diet. In the head kidney, gene expression variations were observed following challenges with A. hydrophila or poly I:C, with higher peak values seen in fish injected with poly I:C. Moreover, c3 mRNA levels were significantly up-regulated in the CVP group 72 h post-A. hydrophila challenge. To conclude, incorporating C. fusca with V. proteolyticus in C. labrosus diet affected the microbial species composition in the intestine while preserving its functionality. In terms of gene expression, the combined diet effectively regulated the transcription of stress and immune-related genes, suggesting potential enhancement of fish resistance against stress and infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge García-Márquez
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Daniel Álvarez-Torres
- Centro Experimental Grice Hutchinson, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Isabel M. Cerezo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
- Unidad de Bioinformática–SCBI, Parque Tecnológico, Universidad de Málaga, 29590 Málaga, Spain
| | - Marta Domínguez-Maqueda
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Félix L. Figueroa
- Centro Experimental Grice Hutchinson, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Alarcón
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Universidad de Almería, Ceimar-Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Almería, Ceimar-Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Eduardo Martínez-Manzanares
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Roberto T. Abdala-Díaz
- Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Julia Béjar
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Salvador Arijo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
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5
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García-Márquez J, Moreira BR, Valverde-Guillén P, Latorre-Redoli S, Caneda-Santiago CT, Acién G, Martínez-Manzanares E, Marí-Beffa M, Abdala-Díaz RT. In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of Ulvan Polysaccharides from Ulva rigida. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050660. [PMID: 37242444 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the main bioactive compounds of interest from the Ulva species is the sulfated polysaccharide ulvan, which has recently attracted attention for its anticancer properties. This study investigated the cytotoxic activity of ulvan polysaccharides obtained from Ulva rigida in the following scenarios: (i) in vitro against healthy and carcinogenic cell lines (1064sk (human fibroblasts), HACAT (immortalized human keratinocytes), U-937 (a human leukemia cell line), G-361 (a human malignant melanoma), and HCT-116 (a colon cancer cell line)) and (ii) in vivo against zebrafish embryos. Ulvan exhibited cytotoxic effects on the three human cancer cell lines tested. However, only HCT-116 demonstrated sufficient sensitivity to this ulvan to make it relevant as a potential anticancer treatment, presenting an LC50 of 0.1 mg mL-1. The in vivo assay on the zebrafish embryos showed a linear relationship between the polysaccharide concentration and growth retardation at 7.8 hpf mL mg-1, with an LC50 of about 5.2 mg mL-1 at 48 hpf. At concentrations near the LC50, toxic effects, such as pericardial edema or chorion lysis, could be found in the experimental larvae. Our in vitro study supports the potential use of polysaccharides extracted from U. rigida as candidates for treating human colon cancer. However, the in vivo assay on zebrafish indicated that the potential use of ulvan as a promising, safe compound should be limited to specific concentrations below 0.001 mg mL-1 since it revealed side effects on the embryonic growth rate and osmolar balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge García-Márquez
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Andalusian Institute of Blue Biotechnology and Development (IBYDA), Malaga University, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - Bruna Rodrigues Moreira
- Phycology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Biological Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
| | - Piedad Valverde-Guillén
- Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology, Faculty of Science, Andalusian Institute of Blue Biotechnology and Development (IBYDA), Malaga University, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - Sofía Latorre-Redoli
- Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology, Faculty of Science, Andalusian Institute of Blue Biotechnology and Development (IBYDA), Malaga University, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - Candela T Caneda-Santiago
- Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology, Faculty of Science, Andalusian Institute of Blue Biotechnology and Development (IBYDA), Malaga University, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Almería University, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Eduardo Martínez-Manzanares
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Andalusian Institute of Blue Biotechnology and Development (IBYDA), Malaga University, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Malaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Manuel Marí-Beffa
- Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology, Faculty of Science, Andalusian Institute of Blue Biotechnology and Development (IBYDA), Malaga University, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Malaga, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Research Centre in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Málaga Biomedical Research Institute and Nanomedicine Platform (IBIMA BIONAND Platform), 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Roberto T Abdala-Díaz
- Department of Ecology and Geology, Faculty of Science, Andalusian Institute of Blue Biotechnology and Development (IBYDA), Malaga University, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Malaga, Spain
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6
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García-Márquez J, Vizcaíno AJ, Barany A, Galafat A, Acién G, Figueroa FL, Alarcón FJ, Mancera JM, Martos-Sitcha JA, Arijo S, Abdala-Díaz RT. Evaluation of the Combined Administration of Chlorella fusca and Vibrio proteolyticus in Diets for Chelon labrosus: Effects on Growth, Metabolism, and Digestive Functionality. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040589. [PMID: 36830376 PMCID: PMC9951767 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the combined effect of dietary Chlorella fusca and ethanol-inactivated Vibrio proteolyticus DCF12.2 (C + V diet) in Chelon labrosus juveniles, highlighting their nutritional, physiological, and morphological effects. The results showed that the combined dietary inclusion of C. fusca and V. proteolyticus significantly enhanced growth performance and feed utilization compared to the control group. The C + V diet increased the fish lipid quality index (FLQ), n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and n-3/n-6 ratio, which might be beneficial in terms of human nutrition. The C + V diet considerably increased carbohydrate metabolic activity by statistically boosting plasma glucose. The dietary inclusion of C. fusca in conjunction with V. proteolyticus increased metabolic enzyme activity as well as intestinal absorption capacity compared to that found in the control group. In conclusion, the experimental diet was suitable for feeding C. labrosus, increasing their growth and the nutritional characteristics of the muscle and intestine, without causing tissue damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge García-Márquez
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Antonio Jesús Vizcaíno
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Universidad de Almería, Ceimar-Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - André Barany
- Department of Biology, Morrill Science Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Ceimar-Universidad de Cádiz, 11519 Cádiz, Spain
| | - Alba Galafat
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Universidad de Almería, Ceimar-Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Almería, Ceimar-Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Félix L. Figueroa
- Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Alarcón
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Universidad de Almería, Ceimar-Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Juan Miguel Mancera
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Ceimar-Universidad de Cádiz, 11519 Cádiz, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Martos-Sitcha
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Ceimar-Universidad de Cádiz, 11519 Cádiz, Spain
| | - Salvador Arijo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-952136650
| | - Roberto Teófilo Abdala-Díaz
- Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA), Universidad de Málaga, Ceimar-Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
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7
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Nordio R, Delgado FJ, Sánchez-Zurano A, Hernandez JG, Rodríguez-Miranda E, Guzmán JL, Lafarga T, Acién G. Long-term assessment of the nutrient recovery capacity and biomass productivity of Scenedesmus almeriensis in raceway reactors using unprocessed urban wastewater. Bioresour Technol 2023; 369:128374. [PMID: 36423751 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The present work aims to assess the treatment of unprocessed urban wastewater using the microalga Scenedesmus almeriensis. Two 12 m3 raceway reactors, one supplemented by wastewater and the second by chemical fertilizer, operating outdoors in a semi-continuous mode, were used for eight months. Results suggested that S. almeriensis can be produced in wastewater without affecting the photosynthetic apparatus reaching a productivity of 13 g·m-2·day-1 on average in both the systems. Furthermore, the nutrient content in terms of nitrogen, phosphorous and chemical oxygen demand of the wastewater was reduced under the European limitations during most of the period, with an average removal rate of 2.2, 0.2 and 3.0 g·m-2·day-1 respectively. Therefore, raceways demonstrated a high potential for microalgal production and successful biotreatment, proving robust and reliable. Finally, the effect of environmental conditions on biomass productivity of the clean system was evaluated in a model with high accuracy (R2 = 0.9, p = 0.0002).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Nordio
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain.
| | | | - Ana Sánchez-Zurano
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | | | | | - José Luis Guzmán
- CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain; Department of Informatics, Universidad de Almería, ceiA3, E04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Tomás Lafarga
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Almería, E04120 Almería, Spain; CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
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8
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Attar SBE, Morillas-España A, López JLC, Pinna-Hernández MG, Acién G. Rheology of microalgae concentrates and its influence on the power consumption of enzymatic hydrolysis processing. N Biotechnol 2022; 72:107-113. [PMID: 36307011 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The optimization of downstream processing is a critical step in any microalgae-related process. The microalgal biomass is separated from the initial diluted cultures to form a concentrated slurry, the properties of which greatly influence the design and performance of further processing steps, such as enzymatic hydrolysis. In this work, the rheological behaviour of two microalgal concentrates produced both in freshwater (Scenedesmus almeriensis) and seawater (Nannochloropsis gaditana) were studied. Measurements were performed on the entire range of biomass concentrations, from 0.5 g/L to 264 g/L. Non-Newtonian behaviour was observed whatever the water type and biomass concentration used, especially at high biomass concentrations above 10 g/L. The rheological data were adjusted to the Power Law model, and the consistency and flow behaviour indexes were correlated with the biomass concentration. The results show that the freshwater and seawater biomasses exhibited different behaviours, with freshwater slurries being more viscous than seawater ones. The high viscosity of freshwater slurries requires increased energy consumption for mixing, with an estimated cost increase of 60% when using them under the non-Newtonian conditions considered. These findings highlight the considerable effect of algal biomass rheology on the mixing power required during microalgal biomass processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solaima Belachqer-El Attar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Ainoa Morillas-España
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - José Luis Casas López
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - María Guadalupe Pinna-Hernández
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), 04120 Almería, Spain.
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9
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Roncero-Ramos B, Román JR, Acién G, Cantón Y. Towards large scale biocrust restoration: Producing an efficient and low-cost inoculum of N-fixing cyanobacteria. Sci Total Environ 2022; 848:157704. [PMID: 35908695 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dryland soil degradation is increasing due to global change and traditional restoration methods are not successful due to water scarcity. Thus, an alternative technology based on inoculating biocrust-forming cyanobacteria on degraded soils has emerged. Biocrusts are communities of mosses, lichens, cyanobacteria or fungi that colonize soil surface forming a stable and fertile layer. Previous studies have shown the benefits of inoculating cyanobacteria to restore soils at a small scale. However, to face field restoration projects, it is necessary to produce high quantities of biomass at an affordable cost. In this work, we analyze if the previously tested cyanobacteria Scytonema hyalinum, Tolypothrix distorta (heterocystous strains) and Trichocoleus desertorum (a bundle-forming one) can be produced with agricultural fertilizers. Different culture media were used: two containing pure chemicals (BG11 and BG110, this N-free medium was used just for heterocystous strains) and two containing fertilizers (BG11-F and MM-F). The performance of the cultures was monitored by measuring the biomass concentration and photosynthetic stress. Afterwards, we analyzed their capacity to induce biocrusts and improve soil properties by inoculating the biomass on a mine substrate indoors and measuring, three months later, the albedo, chlorophyll a and organic carbon content. Results show that the bundle-forming cyanobacterium was unable to grow in the media tested, whereas both heterocystous cyanobacteria grew in all of them and induced the formation of biocrusts improving the organic carbon substrate content. The best results for S. hyalinum were found using the MM-F medium, and for T. distorta using a medium containing pure chemicals (BG11). However, results were also positive when using a medium containing fertilizers (BG11-F). Thus, agricultural fertilizers can be used to undertake the production of heterocystous cyanobacteria for large scale restoration in drylands. On the other hand, more research is needed to find sustainable techniques to produce biomass of bundle-forming cyanobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Roncero-Ramos
- Department of Life Sciences, InBios-Center for Protein Engineering, University of Liège, Belgium; Agronomy Department, University of Almería, Spain.
| | - José Raúl Román
- Agronomy Department, University of Almería, Spain; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Almería, Spain
| | - Yolanda Cantón
- Agronomy Department, University of Almería, Spain; Research Centre for Scientific Collections from the University of Almeria (CECOUAL), Spain
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10
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Morillas-España A, Ruiz-Nieto Á, Lafarga T, Acién G, Arbib Z, González-López CV. Biostimulant Capacity of Chlorella and Chlamydopodium Species Produced Using Wastewater and Centrate. Biology (Basel) 2022; 11:biology11071086. [PMID: 36101464 PMCID: PMC9312269 DOI: 10.3390/biology11071086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The world population is expected to grow by over 2 billion people in the coming decades, involving an increase in agricultural production. Agriculture demands huge amounts of water and energy, so it is crucial to minimise the use of these resources to ensure a sustainable future. Plant biostimulants can promote germination, plant growth, flowering, and crop productivity, as well as increase nutrient-use efficiencies and resistance to abiotic stress. Microalgae are a novel and interesting source of biostimulants, and they can grow using wastewater. Although there is great interest in developing and applying these natural biostimulants produced from microalgae, there is still only a limited number of well-characterised and stable products available commercially. It is therefore necessary to identify novel strains that have a biostimulant capacity that are robust, that can grow in wastewater, and that are highly productive. This work determines the viability of producing high-quality microalgal biomass using wastewater and assesses the biostimulant capacity of the produced biomass. It is focused on an initial laboratory-scale study to produce these strains in wastewater and a preliminary validation of their biostimulant capacity. Abstract The aim of the present study was to assess the potential of producing four microalgal strains using secondary-treated urban wastewater supplemented with centrate, and to evaluate the biostimulant effects of several microalgal extracts obtained using water and sonication. Four strains were studied: Chlorella vulgaris UAL-1, Chlorella sp. UAL-2, Chlorella vulgaris UAL-3, and Chlamydopodium fusiforme UAL-4. The highest biomass productivity was found for C. fusiforme, with a value of 0.38 ± 0.01 g·L−1·day−1. C. vulgaris UAL-1 achieved a biomass productivity of 0.31 ± 0.03 g·L−1·day−1 (the highest for the Chlorella genus), while the N-NH4+, N-NO3−, and P-PO43− removal capacities of this strain were 51.9 ± 2.4, 0.8 ± 0.1, and 5.7 ± 0.3 mg·L−1·day−1, respectively. C. vulgaris UAL-1 showed the greatest potential for use as a biostimulant—when used at a concentration of 0.1 g·L−1, it increased the germination index of watercress seeds by 3.5%. At concentrations of 0.5 and 2.0 g·L−1, the biomass from this microalga promoted adventitious root formation in soybean seeds by 220% and 493%, respectively. The cucumber expansion test suggested a cytokinin-like effect from C. vulgaris UAL-1; it was also the only strain that promoted the formation of chlorophylls in wheat leaves. Overall, the results of the present study suggest the potential of producing C. vulgaris UAL-1 using centrate and wastewater as well as the potential utilisation of its biomass to develop high-value biostimulants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainoa Morillas-España
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; (A.M.-E.); (Á.R.-N.); (T.L.); (G.A.)
- Functional Desalination and Photosynthesis Unit, CIESOL Solar Research Centre, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Ángela Ruiz-Nieto
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; (A.M.-E.); (Á.R.-N.); (T.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Tomás Lafarga
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; (A.M.-E.); (Á.R.-N.); (T.L.); (G.A.)
- Functional Desalination and Photosynthesis Unit, CIESOL Solar Research Centre, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; (A.M.-E.); (Á.R.-N.); (T.L.); (G.A.)
- Functional Desalination and Photosynthesis Unit, CIESOL Solar Research Centre, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Zouhayr Arbib
- Sustainability Area FCC Aqualia, 04001 Almería, Spain;
| | - Cynthia V. González-López
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain; (A.M.-E.); (Á.R.-N.); (T.L.); (G.A.)
- Research Center for Mediterranean Intensive Agrosystems and Agrifood Biotechnology CIAIMBITAL, 04120 Almería, Spain
- Correspondence:
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11
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Rodríguez-Miranda E, Sánchez-Zurano A, Guzmán JL, Acién G, Visioli A. A seasonal simulation approach for culture depth influence on the temperature for different characterized microalgae strains. Biotechnol J 2022; 17:e2100489. [PMID: 35567392 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202100489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Irradiance and temperature are among the most important variables that affect microalgae growth, being both difficult to control in outdoor raceway reactors utilized for large-scale production of microalgae biomass. They are mainly a function of the location of the reactors, thus, producing certain strains of microalgae in inappropriate places conduces to the failure of the systems. To be able to determine important parameters of any microalgae strains on the performance of the culture, such as the influence of irradiance and temperature, is a powerful tool in decision-making processes. In addition, whatever the strain and location, operation strategies must be defined for each specific case, such as the imposed dilution rate and culture depth, both influencing the light availability and temperature of the culture as major variables determining the biomass productivity. In this paper, a simulation-based methodology is proposed to establish the influence of season and culture depth on the 1-year age irradiance and temperature of the culture, and thus on the biomass productivity of different microalgae strains. Up to five of the most frequently produced strains, such as Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsis gaditana, Isochrysis galbana and Scenedesmus almeriensis have been considered. The challenge is to develop an easy-to-manage decision-making tool for the optimal design and operation of large-scale microalgae facilities. Especially, dates for microalgae production and culture depth at which the reactors must be operated will be provided, being valid for any microalgae strain. The proposed methodology will largely contribute to the risk of investment in this field, then to enlarge the relevance of the microalgae production industry. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Sánchez-Zurano
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, CIESOL ceiA3, Universidad de Almería, Almería, Spain
| | - José Luis Guzmán
- Departamento de Informática, CIESOL ceiA3, Universidad de Almería, Almería, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, CIESOL ceiA3, Universidad de Almería, Almería, Spain
| | - Antonio Visioli
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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12
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Ciardi M, Gómez-Serrano C, Morales-Amaral MDM, Acién G, Lafarga T, Fernández-Sevilla JM. Optimisation of Scenedesmus almeriensis production using pig slurry as the sole nutrient source. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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13
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Morillas-España A, Sánchez-Zurano A, Gómez-Serrano C, Ciardi M, Acién G, Clagnan E, Adani F, Lafarga T. Potential of the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp. and Dolichospermum sp. for being produced using wastewater or pig slurry: Validation using pilot-scale raceway reactors. ALGAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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14
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Lafarga T, Sánchez-Zurano A, Villaró S, Morillas-España A, Acién G. Industrial production of spirulina as a protein source for bioactive peptide generation. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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16
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García D, Posadas E, Blanco S, Acién G, García-Encina P, Bolado S, Muñoz R. Evaluation of the dynamics of microalgae population structure and process performance during piggery wastewater treatment in algal-bacterial photobioreactors. Bioresour Technol 2018; 248:120-126. [PMID: 28651871 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.06.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The dynamics of microalgae population during piggery wastewater (PWW) treatment in four open photobioreactors operated at 27days of hydraulic retention time, and inoculated with Chlorella sp. (R1), Acutodesmus obliquus (R2), Oscillatoria sp. (R3) and in the absence of inoculum (R4), were evaluated for 6months. In addition, the algal-bacterial biomass concentration, removal of organic matter, nutrients and heavy metals were also assessed. The results revealed a high diversity and rapid variations in the structure of microalgae populations, Chlorella sp. being dominant in R4 throughout most of the operational period. Steady state average biomass concentration ranged from 2445-2610mg/L in R1-R3 to 3265mg/L in R4. No significant differences were recorded in the removal efficiencies (REs) of total organic carbon (86-87%), inorganic carbon (62-71%), total nitrogen (82-85%) and total phosphorous (90-92%). Finally, Zn-REs accounted for 26% in R3, 37% in R2, and 49% in R1 and R4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimas García
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Centro para la Investigación de los Recursos Acuáticos de Nicaragua, CIRA/UNAN-Managua, Apdo. Postal 4598, Nicaragua
| | - Esther Posadas
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Saúl Blanco
- The Institute of the Environment, La Serna 58, 24007 León, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almeria, Cañada San Urbano, s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
| | - Pedro García-Encina
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Silvia Bolado
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Raúl Muñoz
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
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17
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García D, Posadas E, Grajeda C, Blanco S, Martínez-Páramo S, Acién G, García-Encina P, Bolado S, Muñoz R. Comparative evaluation of piggery wastewater treatment in algal-bacterial photobioreactors under indoor and outdoor conditions. Bioresour Technol 2017; 245:483-490. [PMID: 28898848 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.08.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This work evaluated the performance of four open algal-bacterial photobioreactors operated at ≈26days of hydraulic retention time during the treatment of 10 (×10) and 20 (×20) times diluted piggery wastewater (PWW) under indoor (I) and outdoor (O) conditions for four months. The removal efficiencies (REs) of organic matter, nutrients and zinc from PWW, along with the dynamics of biomass concentration and structure of algal-bacterial population were assessed. The highest TOC-RE, TP-RE and Zn-RE (94±1%, 100% and 83±2%, respectively) were achieved indoors in ×10 PWW, while the highest TN-RE (72±8%) was recorded outdoors in ×10 PWW. Chlorella vulgaris was the dominant species regardless of the ambient conditions and PWW dilution. Finally, DGGE-sequencing of the bacterial community revealed the occurrence of four phyla, Proteobacteria being the dominant phylum with 15 out of the 23 most intense bands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimas García
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Centro para la Investigación de los Recursos Acuáticos de Nicaragua, CIRA/UNAN-Managua, Apdo. Postal 4598, Nicaragua
| | - Esther Posadas
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Carlos Grajeda
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Saúl Blanco
- The Institute of the Environment, La Serna 58, 24007 León, Spain
| | - Sonia Martínez-Páramo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Acién
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almeria, Cañada San Urbano, s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
| | - Pedro García-Encina
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Silvia Bolado
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Raúl Muñoz
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineerings, Valladolid University, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
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