Bioflocculation technique for microalgal harvesting and wastewater nutrient recovery

Fungal assist microalgal cultivation is getting substantial considerations due to the highly efficiency of bioflocculation process without demanded of using chemicals and little bit energy input. Therefore, Fungi pelletization-assisted microalgal cultivation were applied for improving algal harvesting process and nutrient recovery as step wise for wastewater treatment. Two strains of marine microalgae (Nannochloropsis salina and Chlorella salina) and three species of marine fungi (Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus) were implied to investigate the effect of fungi-algae pelletization process on wastewater recovery. After ۴۸ hour of cultivation, the highest flocculation efficiency (۹۸.۹%) was recorded by A. fumigatus assist C. salina, while the lowest percentage (۸۵.۹%) recorded by A. niger assist N. Salina. The highest nutrient removal percentage was for nitrite by A. niger assist C. salina /tap water (۹۸.۴%) followed by phosphate A. fumigates assist N. salina/sea and tap water (۹۰.۹%), then ammonia by A. fumigates assist N. salina/seawater (۸۹.۵%). The bioflocculation process is a promising for algal harvesting techniques and wastewater nutrient recovery.

Keywords:

Wastewater treatment , Fungi/algae assist , Bioflocculation , Nutrient recovery , Microalgal harvesting