Cultivation of Chlorella sp. using raw dairy wastewater for nutrient removal and biodiesel production: Characteristics comparison of indoor bench-scale and outdoor pilot-scale cultures

Bioresour Technol. 2015 Sep:192:382-8. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.05.094. Epub 2015 May 28.

Abstract

The biomass productivity and nutrient removal capacity of simultaneous Chlorella sp. cultivation for biodiesel production and nutrient removal in raw dairy wastewater (RDW) in indoor bench-scale and outdoor pilot-scale photobioreactors were compared. Results from the current work show that maximum biomass productivity in indoor bench-scale cultures can reach 260 mg L(-1) day(-1), compared to that of 110 mg L(-1) day(-1) in outdoor pilot-scale cultures. Maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorous (TP) removal rate obtained in indoor conditions was 88.38, 38.34, and 2.03 mg L(-1) day(-1), respectively, this compared to 41.31, 6.58, and 2.74 mg L(-1) day(-1), respectively, for outdoor conditions. Finally, dominant fatty acids determined to be C16/C18 in outdoor pilot-scale cultures indicated great potential for scale up of Chlorella sp. cultivation in RDW for high quality biodiesel production coupling with RDW treatment.

Keywords: Biodiesel production; Dairy wastewater; Microalgae; Nutrient removal.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biofuels* / analysis
  • Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis
  • Biomass
  • Chlorella / growth & development
  • Chlorella / metabolism*
  • Dairying
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Microalgae / growth & development
  • Microalgae / metabolism
  • Nitrogen / metabolism*
  • Phosphorus / metabolism*
  • Photobioreactors
  • Pilot Projects
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / instrumentation
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
  • Wastewater / analysis*
  • Water Quality

Substances

  • Biofuels
  • Fatty Acids
  • Waste Water
  • Phosphorus
  • Nitrogen