Microalgae Biomass Cultivation in Diluted Seawater Effluent
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high contaminant load and variability of wastewater treatment plant effluents pose challenges for efficient microalgae cultivation, affecting growth rates and biomass production, while the effluents' disposal is costly and harmful to the environment.
Innovation Solution
Cultivating specific strains of microalgae, including Chrysoreinhardia giraudii, Halochlorella rubescens, Nodularia spumigena, and Nodularia harveyana, in a culture medium prepared by diluting effluents from the Salto del Negro treatment plant in seawater at 0.5%, achieving optimal N/P quotients of 31.3, thereby enhancing biomass production and contaminant removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If effluent from wastewater treatment is used as a nutrient source for microalgae cultivation, then biomass production and contaminant removal are improved, but the high contaminant load and varying composition negatively affect the growth rate and robustness of microalgal cultures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the effluent concentration (from 10% to 100% effluent in seawater) to identify optimal growth conditions. Different microalgae strains were tested under different effluent concentrations to find the parameter combination that maximizes both biomass production and cultural robustness, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple microalgae strains (Nannochloropsis gaditana, Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus sp., Tetraselmis sp.) as copies or alternatives to each other, allowing selection of strains that are more robust to effluent variability. This strain diversification strategy enables the system to maintain reliable growth while achieving high productivity under varying effluent conditions.
2Productivity
If effluent concentration is increased to improve contaminant removal efficiency, then the contaminant load and bacterial concentration increase, which can be harmful to microalgal cultures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high contaminant load and bacterial concentration in undiluted effluent into a beneficial resource by using diluted effluent (10-100% concentration in seawater) as a nutrient source for microalgae. The microalgae thrive on the nutrients while simultaneously removing contaminants, transforming a harmful waste stream into a productive culture medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically changes the effluent concentration parameter from 10% to 100% in seawater to optimize the balance between contaminant removal efficiency and cultural health. This parameter adjustment allows the system to achieve effective contaminant removal while maintaining bacterial concentrations and contaminant loads at levels that support robust microalgal growth.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional wastewater treatment methods are used to remove contaminants from effluent, then contaminant removal is achieved, but the process is costly and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by using microalgae to autonomously remove contaminants from effluent through their natural physiological processes of nutrient uptake. The system requires minimal external intervention beyond providing the effluent as culture medium, eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming conventional treatment processes while achieving effective contaminant removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the harmful contaminant-laden effluent into a beneficial resource that supports microalgal growth and productivity. Instead of viewing contaminant removal as a separate costly treatment step, the system integrates contaminant removal into the biomass production process itself, achieving both goals simultaneously and eliminating additional time and cost expenditures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves efficient biomass production and contaminant removal, producing microalgal biomass suitable for various applications, including fertilizers, pesticides, and biofuels, while reducing the environmental impact of effluent disposal.
Implementation Method 1
The inventors have found that the strains of eukaryotic microalgae Chrysoreinhardia giraudii BEA_IDA_0071B and Halochlorella rubescens BEA_IDA_0072B, and strains of cyanobacteria Nodularia spumigena BEA_IDA 0069B and Nodularia harveyana BEA_IDA 0070B exhibit significant rates of biomass production when cultured in a culture medium prepared by diluting an effluent
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing biomass from a microalgae includes culturing the microalgae in an effluent diluted in seawater. A method for bioremediating an effluent includes culturing a microalgae in the effluent diluted in seawater. The microalgae is at least one of a strain of the genus Nodularia, a strain of the genus Chrysoreinhardia, a strain of the genus Halochlorella, or combinations thereof. At the beginning of culturing, the diluted effluent exhibits concentrations of total nitrogen (N) in the range of 30-150 mg/l and concentrations of total phosphorus (P) in the range of 1-15 mg/l. The N/P quotient is in the range of 5-40.