Integration of Microalgae in a Wastewater Treatment Plant

Abstract

The aim of this study is evaluated the employment of a digestate of a conventional wastewater treatment plant us the only source of nutrient in the cultivation of microalgae culture of Scenedesmus and Chlorella in an open pond photobioreactor. Firstly it was studied batch operation mode to understand the behavior of the culture. After that the reactor started to operate in continuous. The percentage of ammonium removal was 97 %. The percentage of that ammonium which was destined to microalgae growth was 58.1 %. 22 % of this NH4 was stripped to the atmosphere. Indeed the use of digestate for growth microalgae with light sun and aerea to provide oxygen is viable.