Microalgae cultivation for the treatment of anaerobically digested municipal centrate (ADMC) and anaerobically digested abattoir effluent (ADAE)

The successful cultivation of microalgae inwastewater establishes awaste to profit scenario as it combines treatment of a waste streamwith production of valuable end-products. Here, growth and nutrient removal efficiency of three different locally isolatedmicroalgal cultures (Chlorella sp., Scenedesmus sp., and a mixed consortium) cultivated in anaerobically digestedmunicipal centrate (ADMC) and anaerobically digested abattoir effluent (ADAE) was evaluated. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in specific growth rate and biomass productivity were recorded between Chlorella monocultures and the mixed culture grown in both effluents. Scenedesmus sp. monocultures was found incapable of growth in both ADMC and ADAE throughout the cultivation period resulting in the collapse of cultures and no furthermeasurements on the growth, biomass production and nutrient removal efficiency of this alga in both effluent. Fq '/Fm ' valueswhich represent the immediate photo-physiological status of microalgae found to be negatively inhibited when Scenedesmus sp. was grown in both effluents throughout the cultivation period. Fq '/Fm ' values of Chlorella sp. monocultures and the mixed cultures recovered back to normal (similar to 0.6) after an initial drop. Ammonium removal rates was found to be significantly higher (similar to 2 folds) for Chlorella sp. monocultures grown in both ADMC and ADAE when compared to the mixed cultures. Nonetheless, no significant differences were observed in the removal of phosphate for both cultures in the different effluents. The total protein and carbohydrate content of the biomass produced was similar for both microalgae cultures grown using ADAE and ADMC. However, chlorophyll a and total carotenoids content were found to be higher (P < 0.05) for the cultures grown in ADAE than ADMC. Overall, Chlorella sp. monoculture was the most efficient option for treating both ADMC and ADAE while simultaneously generating protein rich biomass (up to 49%) that can be potentially exploited as aquaculture feedstock. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Cultivating microalgae in wastewater provides a waste to profit scenario by treating waste while producing valuable end-products. This study found that Chlorella sp. monoculture was the most efficient in both anaerobically digested municipal centrate and anaerobically digested abattoir effluent, while Scenedesmus sp. culture couldn't survive in either effluent.