Phosphorus Removal from Treated Wastewater and Biomass Production by Microalgae Spirulina in Photo Bioreactor

Conventional wastewater treatment systems are not capable of removing phosphorus effectively. The entry of phosphorus into water resources leads to the formation of an Eutrophication phenomenon. One of the methods for phosphorus removal is the use of microalgae. In this way, besides helping with advanced sewage treatment, it can produce algae with many applications. The purpose of this study was to determine the simultaneous and to compare the phosphorus removal (rate of phosphorus) and Spirulina biomass production in a photobioreactor, using two kinds of treated sewage. The experiments were carried out with the manufacture of a photobioreactor and air injection by means of a fine bubble diffuser into sewage-containing reactors. The light source in this test was designed as fluorescent light bulbs and alternating radiation. Urban wastewater effluent and refined sewage were used as a culture medium in a photobioreactor. The amount of phosphorus in the purified sewage was measured by spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 690nm. The phosphorus removal and algal biomass production were measured in different culture medium containing wastewater with various concentrations of phosphorus. The initial concentrations of phosphorus in refined urban sewage and sanitary sewage were 1.96 and 0.4mg L-1, respectively. Phosphorus removal during microalgae cultivation with municipal wastewater and sanitary sewerage (removal of phosphorus) for 8 days, was 71.9% and 37%, respectively. Biomass production in this time were 0.18 and 0.025g/l, respectively. By decreasing the concentration of phosphorus in the wastewater, the amount of biomass production and (removal of) phosphorus removal decreased. Treated domestic and sanitary sewage can be injected directly, without prior treatment, in photobioreactor and it is possible to remove phosphorus and to produce algal biomass.