Title: Enhancement of methane production and wastewater treatment from algae

Authors: Marcos Astorga; Margarita Cesano; Marcela Noemí Gatti; Alberto Camacho

Addresses: Facultad Regional del Neuquén, Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Av. Reverendo Pedro Rotter S/N - Plaza Huincul, 8318, Neuquén, Argentina ' Centro de Investigaciones en Toxicología Ambiental y Agrobiotecnología del Comahue, Concejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas – Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires N°1400 – Neuquén, 8300, Neuquén, Argentina ' Centro de Investigaciones en Toxicología Ambiental y Agrobiotecnología del Comahue, Concejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas – Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires N°1400 – Neuquén, 8300, Neuquén, Argentina ' Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires N°1400 – Neuquén, 8300, Neuquén, Argentina; Facultad Regional del Neuquén, Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Av. Reverendo Pedro Rotter S/N - Plaza Huincul, 8318, Neuquén, Argentina

Abstract: In this study, the synergy between wastewater treatment and anaerobic co-digestion (AC) was evaluated. To fulfill this objective, urban wastewater and pig effluents were treated by means of microalgae and macroalgae sampled from Limay River, Neuquén-Argentina. Comparison between macroalgae, aquatic and terrestrial plants as best co-substrate in AC process was performed using Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) method. To understand their contributions to methane production, Biological Nutrient Removal Model N°2 (BNRM2) was used to represent dynamic data of BMP assays. Results indicate high performance of organic matter removal by algae (63.8 ± 0.5%COD) with high biomass production. BMP assays showed macroalgae as the high methane potential cosubstrate (157.2 ± 66.1 ml CH₄/g VS). BNRM2 implementation showed good fit of dynamic data and reveals that the more methane produced, the higher the hydrolysis rate. In conclusion, algae could be used as a link point between wastewater depuration and anaerobic co-digestion processes.

Keywords: co-digestion; biochemical methane potential; pig slurry; macroalgae; microalgae; BNRM2; wastewater depuration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2020.115808

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2020 Vol.10 No.2, pp.145 - 159

Received: 07 Jul 2020
Accepted: 24 Sep 2020
Published online: 23 Jun 2021 *

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