Journal
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
Volume 10, Issue 11, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/app10113883
Keywords
microalgae; Microchloropsis salina; open photobioreactor; thin-layer cascade; water recycling
Categories
Funding
- Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy (Munich, Germany)
- Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts (Munich, Germany) [LABAY 89A]
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Featured Application Open microalgae mass culture with water recycling as a sustainable feedstock for feed, fuels or chemicals. Abstract (1) Background: Recycling of water and non-converted nutrients is considered to be a necessity for an economically viable production of microalgal biomass as a renewable feedstock. However, medium recycling might also have a negative impact on algal growth and productivity due to the accumulation of growth-inhibiting substances. (2) Methods: Consecutive batch processes with repeated water recycling after harvesting of algal biomass were performed with the saline microalga Microchloropsis salina in open thin-layer cascade photobioreactors operated at a physically simulated Mediterranean summer climate. The impact of water recycling on culture performance was studied and the composition of the recycled water was analyzed. (3) Results: Water recycling had no adverse effect on microalgal growth and biomass productivity (14.9-21.3 g m(-2) d(-1)) if all necessary nutrients were regularly replenished and KNO3 was replaced by urea as the nitrogen source to prevent the accumulation of K+ ions. Dissolved organic carbon accumulated in recycled water, probably promoting mixotrophic growth. (4) Conclusion: This study shows that repeated recycling of water is feasible even in high-density cultivation processes with M. salina of more than 30 g L-1 cell dry weight, increasing culture performance while reducing nutrient consumption and circumventing wastewater production.
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