Start-up of a microalgae-based treatment system within the biorefinery concept : from wastewater to bioproducts
Within the European project INCOVER, an experimental microalgae-based treatment system has been built for wastewater reuse and added-value products generation. This article describes this new experimental plant and the start-up stage, starting from the new design of three semi-closed horizontal phot...
Veröffentlicht in: | Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research. - 1986. - 78(2018), 1-2 vom: 10. Aug., Seite 114-124 |
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Format: | Online-Aufsatz |
Sprache: | English |
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2018
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Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk: | Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research |
Schlagworte: | Journal Article Biofuels Waste Water Methane OP0UW79H66 |
Zusammenfassung: | Within the European project INCOVER, an experimental microalgae-based treatment system has been built for wastewater reuse and added-value products generation. This article describes this new experimental plant and the start-up stage, starting from the new design of three semi-closed horizontal photobioreactors with low energy requirements for microalgae cultivation (30 m3 total), using agricultural runoff and urban wastewater as feedstock. The inflow nutrients concentration is adjusted to select cyanobacteria, microalgae able to accumulate polyhydroxybutyrates, which can be used for bioplastics production. Part of the harvested biomass is used as substrate for anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) with secondary sludge to obtain biogas. This biogas is then cleaned in an absorption column to reach methane concentration up to 99%. The digestate from the AcoD is further processed in sludge wetlands for stabilization and biofertilizer production. On the other hand, treated water undergoes ultrafiltration and disinfection through a solar-driven process, then it is pumped through absorption materials to recover nutrients, and eventually applied in an agricultural field to grow energy crops by means of a smart irrigation system. This plant presents a sustainable approach for wastewater management, which can be seen as a resource recovery process more than a waste treatment |
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Beschreibung: | Date Completed 31.12.2018 Date Revised 07.12.2022 published: Print Citation Status MEDLINE |
ISSN: | 0273-1223 |
DOI: | 10.2166/wst.2018.195 |