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Microalgae Consortia for Post-treating Effluent of Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Waste and Evaluation of Biochemical Composition of Biomass

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to cultivate Spirulina platensis and Scenedesmus obliquus microalgae in consortia using effluents of cattle waste anaerobic treatment in order to give possibilities to the production of microalgae biomass to biorefineries uses. The biomasses obtained were characterized to evaluate the potential for the production of biofuels and other bioproducts. The effluent was used in sterile and non-sterile conditions to better understand the influence of other microorganisms in N and P removal. The biomass obtained with the addition of 10% of sterile effluent in Zarrouk media (20%) presented 44.12 and 34.62% of carbohydrates, using Spirulina platensis in monoculture or the 50%/50% consortia of Spirulina and Scenedesmus, respectively, this biomass presenting the potential to be used to bioethanol production. Nitrogen and phosphorous removal were higher in non-sterile conditions and reached 92.7 and 49.66% of nitrogen and phosphorous removal, respectively, using the consortia and with the addition of 30% effluent in the media. The cultivation of microalgae in a consortium may be used to assist the treatment of water concurrently with the production of biomass to different applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the University of Passo Fundo for the scholarships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biochemistry and Bioprocess, Graduate Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Passo Fundo-UPF, BR 285 km 171, Passo Fundo, RS, CEP 99052-900, Brazil

    Francisco G. Magro & Luciane M. Colla

  2. Environmental Engineering course, University of Passo Fundo-UPF, BR 285 km 171, Passo Fundo, RS, CEP 99052-900, Brazil

    João F. Freitag

  3. Chemical Engineering course, University of Passo Fundo-UPF, BR 285 km 171, Passo Fundo, RS, CEP 99052-900, Brazil

    André Bergoli

  4. Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Food Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil

    Jorge Alberto Vieira Costa

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  1. Francisco G. Magro
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  3. André Bergoli
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  4. Jorge Alberto Vieira Costa
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Contributions

Francisco G. Magro: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis and investigation, and writing. João F. Freitag and André Bergoli: methodology and writing. Jorge A.V. Costa: review. Luciane Maria Colla: conceptualization, writing, reviewing and editing, and supervision.

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Correspondence to Luciane M. Colla.

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Magro, F.G., Freitag, J.F., Bergoli, A. et al. Microalgae Consortia for Post-treating Effluent of Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Waste and Evaluation of Biochemical Composition of Biomass. Bioenerg. Res. 15, 371–384 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-021-10270-8

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