Effects of settling time on the flocculation progress and treatment performance in the co-culture of microalgae-activated sludge photobioreactor

Authors

  • Hong Hai Nguyen
  • Hong Ngoc Luong
  • Ngoc Kim Qui Nguyen
  • Le Phuong Uyen Nguyen
  • Phuong Thao Nguyen
  • Cong Sac Tran
  • Xuan Thanh Bui*

Keywords:

activated sludge, co-culture, flocculation, microalgae, wastewater treatment

Abstract

The application of microalgae-based wastewater treatment systems using wastewater as a source of nutrients has been successfully developed in recent years and has brought about positive results in wastewater treatment and microalgal biomass recovery while producing valuable products. This study presents the application of a microalgae and activated sludge (AS) co-culture in a low agitation photobioreactor (aPBR), which could reduce energy usage. In addition, the results demonstrate the role of settling time on co-culture flocculation progress and wastewater treatment performance. The average Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal was up to 76.1% of co-culture and was achieved using a PBR system with a low agitation speed of 80 rpm. Moreover, a high biomass growth was observed to be coupled with high nutrient removal. After 63 days of operation, heavy flocs with excellent settling ability were dominant in the photobioreactor. This would be a preliminary step for activated algae granulation in a co-culture system.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31276/VJSTE.64(4).91-95

Classification number

5.3

Author Biographies

Hong Hai Nguyen

Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology, Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city

Hong Ngoc Luong

Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology, Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology,
Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city

Ngoc Kim Qui Nguyen

Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology, Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology,
Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city

Le Phuong Uyen Nguyen

Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology, Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology,
Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city

Phuong Thao Nguyen

Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology, Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology,
Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city

Cong Sac Tran

Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology, Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology,
Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city

Xuan Thanh Bui

Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology, Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology,
Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh city

Downloads

Published

2022-12-15

Received 30 July 2021; accepted 14 October 2021

How to Cite

Hong Hai Nguyen, Hong Ngoc Luong, Ngoc Kim Qui Nguyen, Le Phuong Uyen Nguyen, Phuong Thao Nguyen, Cong Sac Tran, & Xuan Thanh Bui. (2022). Effects of settling time on the flocculation progress and treatment performance in the co-culture of microalgae-activated sludge photobioreactor. Vietnam Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering, 64(4), 91-95. https://doi.org/10.31276/VJSTE.64(4).91-95

Issue

Section

Environmental Sciences