Simultaneous high-biomass protein production and nutrient removal using Spirulina maxima in sea water supplemented with anaerobic effluents

The possibilities of utilization of seawater enriched with urea as the culture medium for a blue-green alga, Spirulina maxima, were investigated. Pretreatment by precipitation with NaHCO3 and (or) Na2CO3 was found essential to remove the excess amounts of Ca2+ and Mg2+ present in seawater prior to cultivation. A culture medium as good as the synthetic medium reported in the literature for the growth of S. maxima was obtained after treating seawater with NaHCO3 (19.2 g/L) at pH 9.2 and 35 °C for 2 h, filtering to remove precipitates, and enriching with K2HPO4 (0.5 g/L), NaNO3 (3.0 g/L), and FeSO4 (0.01 g/L). The same results were obtained by substituting a small amount (0.2 g/L or less) of either crystalline or polymerized urea for the NaNO3 in the above medium. Growth of S. maxima was inhibited at higher concentration s of urea in the culture medium. The inhibition effect was due to the partial decomposition of urea into ammonia in alkali medium. Tests conducted on the 130-L cultivation open pond also confirmed that the seawater–urea medium supports growth of S. maxima as well as the best known synthetic medium.

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Biological nutrient removal at a very low-loaded activated sludge plant with high biomass concentrations

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.1016/s0273-1223(98)00391-6 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Activated Sludge ◽

Nutrient Removal ◽

Biological Nutrient Removal ◽

High Biomass

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Enhancement of Immune Activation Activities of Spirulina maxima Grown in Deep-Sea Water

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms140612205 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 12205-12221 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Woon Choi ◽

Do Kang ◽

Hyeon Lee

Keyword(s):

Immune Activation ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Sea Water ◽

Spirulina Maxima ◽

Deep Sea Water

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Combined Artificial Wetland and High Rate Algal Pond for Wastewater Treatment and Protein Production

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1989.0268 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 21 (6-7) ◽

pp. 659-668 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

A. Wood ◽

J. Scheepers ◽

M. Hills

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Green Alga ◽

Nutrient Removal ◽

Protein Production ◽

Pilot Scale ◽

High Rate ◽

Residence Times ◽

Surface Loading ◽

Artificial Wetland ◽

Effluent Stream

The potential to optimize wastewater utilization, whilst achieving satisfactory nutrient removal has been investigated through a simple system combining an Artificial Wetland with a High Rate Algal Pond (HRAP). Receiving septic sewage at a surface loading equivalent to 13.5 cm/day the Wetland achieved COD removals of 59.2%, NH4−N of 34,6%, PO4−P of 31.9% and SS of 78%. The HRAP selectively cultivated an easily harvestable filamentous green alga through a combination of short hydraulic residence times (< days), and microscreens as selectors over the effluent stream. Passage of the effluent through this stage permitted COD removal to increase to 79.4%, NH4−N to 82.8% and PO4−P to 54.1%, whilst generating a highly proteinaceous (42% by wt) biomass at a rate of approximately 50 tons/hectare/year. This paper discusses the performance of the pilot scale facility over a twelve month period, identifying biological and operational influences on the system, and the physiological mechanics by which the wastewater treatment is accomplished.

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