Zeolite-amended microalgal-bacterial system in a membrane photobioreactor for promoting system stability, biomass production, and wastewater treatment efficiency to realize Environmental-Enhancing Energy paradigm

Mengzi Wang, Lance Schideman, Haifeng Lu, Yuanhui Zhang, Baoming Li, Wei Cao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Efficiently producing biomass through microalgal-bacterial system (MBS) by using hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater (HTLWW) is a critical step to realize Environmental-Enhancing Energy (E 2 -Energy) paradigm. However, the toxicity and instability of HTLWW reduce biomass accumulation and further limit biocrude oil production. Here, zeolites were applied to investigate their role in improving MBS performance, which was challenged by four shock loadings, in a membrane photobioreactor (MPBR). Results demonstrated that zeolites effectively improved ammonium (NH 4 + ) removal in both short and long term. After adding zeolites in 2# shock loading phase, NH 4 + removal quickly increased to 99.5% in 9 days, which was higher compared with that after 1# shock loading (increase to 86.1% in 43 days). Even after zeolites were removed, it only took 5 days to remove 89.3% of NH 4 + after 4# shock loading. Zeolites also promoted the total suspended biomass (TSB), especially the microalgae, from the negative effect of shock loadings. Contrast to 1# and 4# shock loading phases, shorter reduction time of chlorophyll (a + b) was observed after 2# and 3# shock loading with zeolites. With zeolite, the average chlorophyll (a + b) and TSB were 35.2 and 1577.2 mg L −1 , which respectively increased by 67.2 and 34.2% compared with those in the phases without zeolites. Zeolites act as adsorbents relieving the NH 4 + concentration and provide favorite habitats to form biofilms, which promote the tolerance of microorganisms to the high HTLWW concentrations and increased the biomass production. Adding zeolite is one suggested way to promote MBS stability, pollutant removal, and biomass production.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)335-344
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Applied Phycology
Volume31
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2019

Keywords

  • Hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater
  • Membrane photobioreactor
  • Microalgal-bacterial system
  • Shock loading
  • Zeolite

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aquatic Science
  • Plant Science

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