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Biogas Production from Microalgal Biomass Produced in the Tertiary Treatment of Urban Wastewater: Assessment of Seasonal Variations

Author

Listed:
  • Raúl Barros

    (CIMA—Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, FCT, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • Sara Raposo

    (CIMA—Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, FCT, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • Etiele G. Morais

    (CCMAR—Centre of Marine Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • Brígida Rodrigues

    (CIMA—Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, FCT, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • Valdemira Afonso

    (CIMA—Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, FCT, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • Pedro Gonçalves

    (CIMA—Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, FCT, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • José Marques

    (CCMAR—Centre of Marine Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • Paulo Ricardo Cerqueira

    (CCMAR—Centre of Marine Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • João Varela

    (CCMAR—Centre of Marine Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
    GreenCoLab—Green Ocean Technologies and Products Collaborative Laboratory, CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • Margarida Ribau Teixeira

    (CENSE—Centre for Research on the Environment and Sustainability & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • Luísa Barreira

    (CCMAR—Centre of Marine Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
    GreenCoLab—Green Ocean Technologies and Products Collaborative Laboratory, CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

Abstract

The valorization of microalgal biomass produced during wastewater treatment has the potential to mitigate treatment costs. As contaminated biomass (e.g., with pharmaceuticals, toxic metals, etc.) is often generated, biogas production is considered an effective valorization option. The biomass was obtained from a pilot facility of photobioreactors for tertiary wastewater treatment. The pilots were run for one year with naturally formed microalgal consortia. The biogas was generated in 70 mL crimp-top vials at 35 °C, quantified with a manometer and the methane yield measured by gas chromatography. A maximum biogas production of 311 mL/g volatile solids (VS) with a methane yield of 252 mL/g VS was obtained with the spring samples. These rather low values were not improved using previous thermo-acidic hydrolysis, suggesting that the low intrinsic biodegradable organic matter content of the consortia might be the cause for low yield. Considering the total volume of wastewater treated by this plant and the average amount of methane produced in this study, the substitution of the current tertiary treatment with the one here proposed would reduce the energy consumption of the plant by 20% and create an energy surplus of 2.8%. The implementation of this system would therefore contribute towards meeting the ambitious decarbonization targets established by the EU.

Suggested Citation

  • Raúl Barros & Sara Raposo & Etiele G. Morais & Brígida Rodrigues & Valdemira Afonso & Pedro Gonçalves & José Marques & Paulo Ricardo Cerqueira & João Varela & Margarida Ribau Teixeira & Luísa Barreira, 2022. "Biogas Production from Microalgal Biomass Produced in the Tertiary Treatment of Urban Wastewater: Assessment of Seasonal Variations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-10, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:15:p:5713-:d:881666
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Etiele G. Morais & Nathana L. Cristofoli & Inês B. Maia & Tânia Magina & Paulo R. Cerqueira & Margarida Ribau Teixeira & João Varela & Luísa Barreira & Luísa Gouveia, 2021. "Microalgal Systems for Wastewater Treatment: Technological Trends and Challenges towards Waste Recovery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-26, December.
    2. Yang, Zhiman & Guo, Rongbo & Xu, Xiaohui & Fan, Xiaolei & Luo, Shengjun, 2011. "Fermentative hydrogen production from lipid-extracted microalgal biomass residues," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(10), pages 3468-3472.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcin Dębowski & Izabela Świca & Joanna Kazimierowicz & Marcin Zieliński, 2022. "Large Scale Microalgae Biofuel Technology—Development Perspectives in Light of the Barriers and Limitations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-23, December.
    2. Małgorzata Hawrot-Paw & Adam Koniuszy & Patryk Ratomski & Magdalena Sąsiadek & Andrzej Gawlik, 2023. "Biogas Production from Arthrospira platensis Biomass," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-12, May.

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