Photobioreactor design and parameters essential for algal cultivation using industrial wastewater: A review
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2023
Abstract
Industrial wastewater containing heavy-metals, along with high quantities of nutrients and soluble salts, promote eutrophication in aquatic bodies. On the contrary, microalgae biomass may be leveraged to produce proteins, carbohydrates, pigments, lipids, hydrocarbons, fertilisers, soil conditioners, fish or animal feed, and a range of other goods. However, due to the high production cost and sensitivity of mass cultivation parameters - nutrients, agitation, pH, light, temperature, degassing, and controls, the current global output of microalgae biomass is approximately 9000 tonnes per year. Thus, combining microalgae cultivation with wastewater treatment is one of the feasible solutions for reducing the operating costs of the wastewater treatment plant, and subsequently reducing the cost of microalgae cultivation. Besides, photobioreactor can play a huge role in controlling the essential parameters for the cultivation of microalgae compared to cultivation in open ponds. This review aims to maximize the microalgae growth using industrial wastewater for cultivation in a photobioreactor while considering the essential parameters. Various microalgae species are feasible for cultivation in various industrial wastewater such as paper and pulp, textile, dairy, heavy metal, food processing and agricultural industries wastewater. The designs, construction materials and comparison of photobioreactors are reviewed under the photobioreactor section while the essential parameters in the photobioreactor are reviewed under the operating conditions section. However, based on the review, there are limited studies that incorporate the cultivation of microalgae using industrial wastewater with a photobioreactor. Optimizations of parameters using industrial wastewater in a photobioreactor to maximize the microalgae growth are crucial to be studied.
Keywords
Industrial wastewater, Biological treatment, Microalgae, Photobioreactor, Operating conditions
Divisions
sch_che,sch_civ
Funders
University of Malaya's Impact Oriented Interdisciplinary Research Grant (Grant No: IIRG016B-2019)
Publication Title
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews
Volume
173
Publisher
Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd
Publisher Location
THE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, ENGLAND