Microalga Spirulina platensis in livestock bioremediation: a tool for pollution reduction with the production of economically valuable macromolecules
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18011/bioeng.2025.v19.1306Keywords:
Biofixation, Bioremediation, Bioresource, PhotosynthesisAbstract
In the present research, the microalgae Spirulina platensis DRH 20 was cultivated in two horizontal photobioreactors (HPBR) under two different irradiances (150 and 300 μmol m-2 s-2). The experiment took place in batches for a period of 8 days. The maximum specific growth rate of 0.35 day-1, and the doubling time of 2.1 days, were obtained under the highest culture illumination. The production of dry biomass reached maximum values between 2.2 g L-1 and 6.5 g L-1, and volumetric productivity of biomass between 0.08 and 0.56 g L-1 day-1. Productivity per area was 50 g m-2 d-1. As for CO2 biofixation, relevant values for reducing this gas in the atmosphere were obtained, ranging from 128 to 882 mg L-1 day-1. In terms of organic matter, between 16.3-77% of BOD5 and 12.6-61.6% of COD were removed. In the removal of ST, SST and SSV, values between 71-80%, 79-84% and 87-88% were reached, respectively. NH4+ removal was between 33-98%, 20-96% organic nitrogen and 35-90% total phosphorus. In view of the results found, it can be considered that the bioremediation of the effluent achieved promising efficiencies, with the advantage of producing biomass with the potential to obtain macromolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids) of relevant economic value.
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