A hybrid algal photosynthesis and ion exchange (HAPIX) process was developed that uses natural zeolite (chabazite) and wild type algae to treat high ammonium (NH₄⁺) strength wastewater. In the HAPIX process, NH₄⁺ is temporarily adsorbed from the liquid, which reduces the free ammonia (FA) concentration below the inhibitory level for algal growth. The slow release of adsorbed NH₄⁺ subsequently supports the continuous growth of algae. In this study, a HAPIX reactor reduced NH₄⁺-N concentrations in centrate from an anaerobic digester from 1180 mg L⁻¹ to below 10 mg L⁻¹ without dilution. Chabazite doses of 60 g L⁻¹ produced more algal biomass, with higher protein and starch contents, than doses of 150 g L⁻¹ and 250 g L⁻¹. Approximately 67–70% of fatty acids in the algal biomass harvested from HAPIX reactors were unsaturated. A mathematical framework that couples a homogeneous surface diffusion model with a co-limitation algal kinetic growth model reasonably predicted the algal biomass production and NH₄⁺-N concentrations in the HAPIX reactors. The HAPIX process has the potential to serve a two-fold purpose of high NH₄⁺-N strength wastewater treatment and agricultural or commercial biopolymer production.

开发了一种混合藻类光合作用和离子交换（HAPIX）工艺，该工艺使用天然沸石（菱沸石）和野生型藻类处理高铵（NH ₄ ⁺）浓度的废水。在HAPIX过程中，NH ₄ ⁺会暂时从液体中吸收，这会将游离氨（FA）的浓度降低到藻类生长抑制水平以下。吸附的NH ₄ ⁺的缓慢释放随后支持藻类的连续生长。在这项研究中，HAPIX反应器无需稀释即可将厌氧消化池中浓缩液中的NH ₄ ⁺ -N浓度从1180 mg L ^-1降至10 mg L ^-1以下。菱沸石剂量为60 g L ^-1与150 g L ^-1和250 g L ^-1的剂量相比，所产生的藻类生物量更多，蛋白质和淀粉含量更高。从HAPIX反应器收获的藻类生物质中大约67–70％的脂肪酸​​是不饱和的。数学框架将均质表面扩散模型与共限制藻类动力学生长模型耦合在一起，可以合理地预测HAPIX反应器中藻类生物量的产生和NH ₄ ⁺ -N的浓度。HAPIX工艺具有实现高NH ₄ ⁺ -N强度废水处理以及农业或商业生物聚合物生产的双重目的的潜力。