Abstract:
The potential of indigenous microalgae-bacteria consortia (IMBC) to recover nutrients from food processing
effluents (FPE) supports the basis for advanced effluent polishing and value-added biomass generation. In this
study, the effluent polishing potential of an FPE-borne IMBC treating FPE and synthetic wastewater (SWW) was
investigated regarding nutrient, coliform bacteria, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal as well as the
IMBC species evolution, and pigment production. Species evolution and diversity of the IMBC in FPE and SWW
were influenced by nitrogen levels (3.83 mg/L and 32.61 mg/L NH4
+, respectively). More blue-green microalgae
were observed in SWW (0.96 mg/L phycocyanin) whilst diatoms dominated in FPE (0.05 mg/L phycocyanin).
Total coliform bacteria removal influenced COD reduction and this had a significant effect on dissolved oxygen
production. The study offers new insights into the feasibility of using IMBC biofilm for advanced FPE polishing
and nutrient recovery (0.98 mg/L NH4
+, 0.85 mg/L PO4
3− , 0.84 mg/L COD, 3.2 g/L protein, and 2.8 g/L carbo hydrates), demonstrating that it is possible to use IMBC biofilm for post-treatment of FPE, removing the residual
N and P to prevent eutrophication.
